Delaware Valley Stroke Council Will Mark Stroke Alert Day with Free Blood Pressure Screenings and Stroke Education

Submitted by: Helene Katz, Executive Administrator, Delaware Valley Stroke Council

Delaware Valley Stroke Council will hold free blood pressure screenings and educate the Delaware Valley community on the warning signs of stroke on Tuesday, May 4th — Stroke Alert Day.

The Delaware Valley Stroke Council, a 501 (c) (3) organization has two major events planned for this spring. Tuesday, May 4th marks Stroke Alert Day. On this day, Delaware Valley Stroke Council, in partnership with area healthcare providers and volunteers, will work to reduce the incident rate and impact of stroke in the Delaware Valley community by holding free blood pressure screenings and educating the community about the risk factors and warning signs of stroke.

Delaware Valley Stroke Council's mission is to reduce the incidence and impact of stroke through heightened public awareness, continuing professional education and legislative and patient advocacy.

According to Delaware Valley Stroke Council Founder and Executive Director, Toby Mazer, “We envision a reduction in the incidence and impact of stroke throughout the Delaware Valley community that values stroke prevention strategies and has the knowledge to act emergently to the signs and symptoms of stroke.”

On Stroke Alert Day, medical professionals will be stationed at various locations throughout the Delaware Valley, including area hospitals, drug stores, supermarkets and malls, to offer complimentary blood pressure screenings to members of the community. Delaware Valley Stroke Council will also use Stroke Alert Day as an opportunity to educate and bring awareness to the incidence and treatment of stroke to the general public, including communicating the warning signs of stroke and the actions that must be taken at the onset of those symptoms.

The warning signs of stroke are:

• Sudden weakness or numbness of the face, arm or leg, especially on one side of the body
• Sudden difficulty speaking or understanding simple statements
• Sudden and severe headache with no apparent cause
• Sudden blurred or decreased vision in one or both eyes
• Sudden loss of balance or lack of coordination, especially when combined with other warning signs

Blood pressure screenings will be conducted on Tuesday, May 4th from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at locations throughout the Delaware Valley, including:

Pennsylvania Locations

• Bryn Mawr Hospital 130 South Bryn Mawr Ave., Bryn Mawr, PA
• Walgreen's 720 West Lancaster Ave., Bryn Mawr, PA
• Doylestown Hospital 595 West State St., Doylestown, PA
• Fine Care, Inc 7900 Old York Rd., Elkins Park, PA
• Walgreen's 1456 Bethlehem Pike, Flourtown, PA
• St. Mary Medical Center 1201 Langhorne-Newtown Rd., Langhorne, PA
• Bryn Mawr Rehabilitation 414 Paoli Pike, Malvern, PA
• Methodist Hospital 2301 South Broad St., Philadelphia, PA
• Mercy Hospital of Philadelphia 501 South 54th St., Philadelphia, PA
• Magee Rehabilitation 1513 Race St., Philadelphia, PA
• Nazareth Hospital 2601 Holme Ave., Philadelphia, PA
• Jeanes Hospital 7600 Central Ave, Philadelphia, PA
• 30th Street Station Philadelphia, PA
• Haddington Multi Services for Older Adults 5331 Haverford Ave, Philadelphia, PA
• JCC Stiffel Senior Center 604 Porter St, Philadelphia, PA
• Jefferson University Hospital Gibbon Building - 10th St Lobby, Philadelphia, PA
• Jefferson Hospital for Neuroscience 900 Walnut St., Philadelphia, PA
• Liberty Place 16th Street and Chestnut, Philadelphia, PA
• Nationalities Senior Program at the Trinity Presbyterian Church 1100 Rockland St, Philadelphia, PA
• NBC10 Philadelphia, PA
• Reading Terminal 12th Street and Arch, Philadelphia, PA
• Temple University Hospital 3801 N. Broad St, Philadelphia, PA
• Walgreen's 1800 Lombard St., Philadelphia PA
• Walgreen's 807 Locust St., Philadelphia, PA
• West Oak Lane Senior Center 7210 Ogontz Ave, Philadelphia, PA
• HealthSouth Rehabilitation Hospital 1623 Morgantown Rd, Reading, PA
• St. Joseph's Medical Center 2500 Bernville Rd, Route 183, Reading, PA

New Jersey & Delaware Locations

• Cherry Hill Mall Cherry Hill, NJ
• Katz Jewish Community Center Cherry Hill, NJ
• Walgreen's 1819 Route 70, Cherry Hill, NJ
• Deptford Mall Deptford, NJ
• HealthSouth Reading Rehabilitation Hospital 1237 West Sherman Ave, Vineland, NJ
• Walgreen's 800 Woodlane Rd., Westampton, NJ
• Kennedy Hospital Cherry Hill, NJ; Stratford, NJ; Washington Township, NJ
• Marlton Rehabilitation Hospital 92 Brick Rd., Marlton, NJ
• Ponzio's Cherry Hill, NJ
• ShopRite Cherry Hill, NJ; Evesham, NJ; Garden State Park, Cherry Hill, NJ; Marlton, NJ
• Virtua Hospital Berlin, NJ; Mount Holly, NJ; Marlton, NJ; Voorhees, NJ
• Wegman's Cherry Hill, NJ
• William H. Rohrer Fitness Center Voorhees, NJ; Washington Township, NJ
• BeBe Hospital 4242 Savannah Rd., Lewes, DE

To learn more about the mission and work of Delaware Valley Stroke Council, please visit http://www.phillystroke.org/

About Delaware Valley Stroke Council

Founded in 1995 by a group of area neurologists, Delaware Valley Stroke Council (formerly Philadelphia Stroke Council) serves Philadelphia and the Greater Delaware Valley, including South Jersey and Delaware. The mission of Delaware Valley Stroke Council is to improve services for and treatment of stroke survivors and their families. Delaware Valley Stroke Council, a United Way agency, fulfills this mission by promoting optimal stroke care through advocacy, education, awareness, diagnosis and treatment.

Continuing with our drive to make the public aware of the consequences of stroke, June 13 is our annual Howard Mazer Memorial Strides for Stroke Race/Walk at the Museum Circle and MLK Drive.

The Delaware Valley Stroke Council hopes that you will join us to fight stroke.

*If you know of a for-profit member involved with a community initiative or non-profit organization that is looking to gain a little extra exposure, please have them send a two-paragraph overview of the program and their level of participation to tmanco@greaterphilachamber.com