The AHA|ASA is Striking Out Stroke with U of U Health Care

Since January 2015, University of Utah Health Care has partnered with the AHA|ASA on our Together to End Stroke initiative. This past month our two organizations were able to collaborate on a number of fun and educational activities across the Salt Lake Valley to encourage Utahns to know and recognize the F.A.S.T. symptoms of a stroke. Here is just a sampling of the activities:

• Cafeteria tables in University Hospital were adorned with special table toppers to remind staff and visitors (family and friends of patients) of the F.A.S.T. warning signs. In coordination with this, AHA|ASA volunteers staffed an informational table near the cafeteria to educate staff and visitors on things they can do to avoid stroke and other cardiovascular diseases. *hint* – might want to put the salt shaker down 
  
  
• The AHA|ASA had an opportunity to celebrate National Nurses Appreciation Day by delivering fruits and other heart and brain healthy snacks to nurses at UUHC. Staff also passed along special Together to End Stroke lapel pins to doctors, physician’s assistants and hospital leadership to remind them of the important role they each play in preventing and treating strokes. AHA|ASA staff also participated in the UUHC Stroke Symposium, held each year to bring stroke experts from across the intermountain region to train them on the latest and greatest in stroke treatment and care.
  
  
• The UUHC and AHA|ASA also teamed up to reach out to the community. Clinics from across the valley were given special stroke awareness materials in both English and Spanish. A special “Striking Out Stroke” event was held downtown where hundreds of Utahns were taught to recognize stroke symptoms and encouraged to pitch F.A.S.T.  balls into a special pitching net that clocked how fast participants threw. Subway provided sandwiches and Muir Copper Canyon Farms provided apples to those who took a short F.A.S.T. quiz.
  
  
• In addition to these great events, UUHC doctors had multiple opportunities to engage with the public through social media (#StrokeChat), television (cooking segment on KUTV 2 with Chef Bryan; interview on FOX 13 during our Striking Out Stroke event), and radio (interviews on KSOP 104.3 FM). Comcast Newsmakers also interviewed the UUHC Stroke Center Clinical Manager regarding stroke awareness and our upcoming Saving Strokes event on June 17 at Nibley Park. This golfing rehab event starts at 10:30 am and is for stroke survivors and their caregivers. The Comcast interview runs throughout June to raise awareness and encourage attendance in this wonderful event.

We are so grateful for our partnership with University of Utah Health Care and their commitment to helping us achieve our 2020 goal: To improve the cardiovascular health of all Americans by 20% while reducing deaths by heart disease and stroke by 20%. With strong partnerships like this we are well on our way to achieving our life-saving mission!