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Edmee CR Hasler
Contributing writer
LewisGale Medical Center and the city of Salem leadership celebrated their dedication to becoming a ‘Stroke Smart City’ by launching the initiative with a proclamation during the city council meeting on Tuesday, May 28. Mayor Renee Turk, city council members, public safety leaders and colleagues from LewisGale Medical Center gathered during the meeting to kick off the “Stroke Smart Salem” initiative.
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Stroke Smart Virginia is a public health campaign designed to reduce pre-hospital delays and ensure timely stroke treatment through simple education and actions. Adopted as a statewide initiative by the Virginia Stroke Systems Task Force (VSSTF) in 2021, Stroke Smart Virginia includes a Community Action Group that meets monthly.
May, being American Stroke Awareness Month, inspired hospital leaders to introduce this educational campaign amid a rising number of stroke cases in the region. Partnering with the Virginia Department of Health, Salem has become the first ‘Stroke Smart City’ west of Richmond.
“With this step-in community outreach, together with LewisGale Medical Center we are partnering together to create a Stroke Smart Salem. This means having the community be informed of stroke signs and symptoms and seek treatment as soon as they notice them,” said Elizabeth Hart, LewisGale Medical Center stroke coordinator. “Stroke volume at our hospital continues to increase year over year, and 1.9 million brain cells die every minute a stroke goes untreated,” Hart said. “Just like we learn, stop, drop, and roll, stroke education is something our entire community should know.”
“Seeing someone come into the hospital with weakness that affects their daily life and being able to, in some instances, give medication to turn that around is quite inspirational,” Hart added. “I have been the stroke coordinator at LewisGale Medical Center for three years and a nurse for 33 years. It is my passion to teach anyone I can about the signs and symptoms of stroke.”
Supported by the Virginia Department of Health and the Stroke Smart Virginia program, the education campaign aims to teach people how to recognize a stroke and call 911 immediately. According to the National Institutes of Health, strokes affect one in six Americans. Signs of a stroke include face drooping, arm weakness, speech difficulty, confusion, numbness, trouble walking, and trouble seeing.
“Stroke Smart Salem is an initiative we can all get behind. We’re the first program west of Richmond, and I’m proud of our city for setting the pace in Virginia’s Blue Ridge,” Mayor Renee Turk said. “Together, we can see a stroke, spot a stroke, and save a life.”
The hospital is seeking additional community partners to join the Stroke Smart Salem Committee and help disseminate educational materials. A community activation day is planned for this summer. Interested partners can contact Elizabeth.Hart@HCAHealthcare.com.
