'Stroke Smart City' created from City of Salem and LewisGale Medical Center partnership
Together we can see a stroke, stop a stroke and save a life with a new education campaign.
LewisGale Medical Center has partnered with the city of Salem and other local organizations to spread awareness about the signs and symptoms of a stroke to help improve emergency outcomes.
City officials, including Mayor Renee Turk and City Council, alongside public safety leadership gathered with LewisGale Medical Center colleagues Tuesday night for a proclamation to kick off the Stroke Smart Salem initiative.
“Stroke volume at our hospital continues to increase year over year, and 1.9 million brain cells die every minute a stroke goes untreated,” said Elizabeth Hart, LewisGale Medical Center stroke coordinator. “Just like we learn stop, drop, and roll, stroke education is something our entire community should know.”
The education campaign, with support from the Virginia Department of Health and the Stroke Smart Virginia program, aims to educate people about the importance of knowing how to recognize a stroke, and then to call 911 as soon as possible. The medical emergency affects one in six Americans according to the National Institutes of Health.
“Stroke Smart Salem is an initiative we can all get behind,” Mayor Renee Turk said. “We’re the first program west of Richmond, and I’m proud of our city for setting the pace in Virginia’s Blue Ridge. Together, we can see a stroke, stop a stroke, and save a life.”
The hospital is recruiting additional community partners to join the Stroke Smart Salem Committee, finding effective ways to share educational materials. A community activation day is planned for this summer. Interested partners can contact Elizabeth Hart.