The Family BE FAST Photo Challenge: Make Stroke Awareness Playful, Memorable, and Impossible to Ignore Before the Season Changes

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Stroke can strike without warning, and every second counts. Your family can turn learning the BE FAST stroke signs into a playful, unforgettable photo challenge that sticks with everyone long after the season changes. This simple activity boosts stroke awareness, helping you act fast and call 911 for stroke when it matters most. Ready to make your family part of Oregon’s community health education?

Embrace Stroke Awareness with BE FAST

Recognizing the signs of a stroke quickly can save lives. The BE FAST acronym is a vital tool that anyone can learn. By knowing these signs, you help protect your family and others from the devastating effects of a stroke.

Understanding the BE FAST Signs

BE FAST stands for: Balance, Eyes, Face, Arms, Speech, and Time. Each letter represents a crucial stroke symptom. Balance issues or sudden dizziness might be the first sign. Vision changes, like blurred or double vision, can also occur. Look at the face: is one side drooping? When a person lifts their arms, is one weaker? Speech can become slurred or strange. If these signs appear, call 911 immediately. Time is critical: stroke is an emergency!

Importance of Acting Fast

Every second counts during a stroke. The phrase “Time = Brain” highlights the urgency. Quick recognition and action can greatly reduce the impact of a stroke and improve recovery chances. By learning and teaching these signs, you prepare to act fast. Most people believe they have time, but strokes happen in an instant. By acting quickly, you can truly make a difference.

The Family Photo Challenge

Make learning about stroke signs engaging with a family photo challenge. This fun activity turns education into a memorable experience, ensuring everyone remembers these life-saving steps.

Creating Educational Photos

Get creative with your family photos. Each picture represents a BE FAST sign. For example, capture a silly face to show facial drooping or pose with one arm up to represent arm weakness. These images become visual reminders of what to watch for during a stroke. This activity not only helps solidify memory but also makes learning enjoyable for everyone involved.

Sharing and Spreading Awareness

Once your photos are ready, share them! Post on social media platforms like Instagram or Facebook. Encourage friends and family to participate and tag them in the challenge. Social media is a powerful tool for spreading awareness. The more people see and share, the greater the impact. You’re not just engaging your family but contributing to a broader community effort.

Community Engagement and Support

Beyond family activities, there are plenty of ways to get involved. Engaging with community support can enhance your efforts and provide additional resources.

Joining Support Groups and Volunteering

Consider joining a local support group. These groups are invaluable resources for both stroke survivors and their families. Volunteering is another excellent way to contribute. Whether it’s helping organize events or providing support to those in need, your involvement can make a significant impact. By volunteering, you connect with others passionate about stroke awareness and prevention.

Encouraging Donations and Participation

Supporting organizations like Stroke Awareness Oregon can drive change. Donations help fund education and resources that save lives. Encourage others to contribute or participate in local events. Every little bit helps, and together, we can create a community that is informed and prepared to act. The longer you wait to get involved, the more opportunities for impact you might miss.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does BE FAST stand for?
BE FAST is an acronym: Balance, Eyes, Face, Arms, Speech, and Time. It helps remember the signs of a stroke.

Why is acting quickly during a stroke important?
Acting fast is crucial because the sooner treatment begins, the better the chances for recovery. Time lost can mean more brain damage.

How can I get my family involved in stroke awareness?
Organize a family photo challenge. Each photo represents a BE FAST sign, making learning about stroke signs fun and memorable.

What are some ways to support stroke awareness in the community?
Join support groups or volunteer with organizations dedicated to stroke prevention and recovery. Donations also help fund essential programs.

How can I spread awareness beyond my family?
Share your family’s BE FAST photos on social media. Encourage friends and family to join the challenge and tag others to spread the word.

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Story Preview | A DRIVING FORCE – Alesha Goodman

by Jake Sheaffer

“I once threw a canister of my supplement powder at the wall and dented it. That’s something I can’t imagine ever doing before my stroke, but it’s just another part
of my recovery to work on.”

______________________________

On an early October weekend in 2019, Alesha Goodman and her longtime boyfriend Drew hiked over 50 miles of rugged desert landscape in the Ochoco National Forest in Central Oregon. They were on a nine-day hunting trip they’d been planning for months. While Drew streaked up the steep slopes of sagebrush and loose rock, Alesha tarried behind breathing heavily, fighting the searing pain radiating from the base of her skull. An active thirty-four-year-old who frequented local gyms, walked her dog daily, and hiked on weekends, Alesha never suspected the severe neck pain and nausea she’d had for the past week and a half were signs of an impending stroke. And not just one stroke, but two. Two potentially fatal strokes that would occur within an hour of each other the day after she returned from the Ochocos.

An only child, Alesha was close to her parents and her grandmother who lived on her parents’ property later in life. As a kid, she delivered newspapers in her Bend, OR neighborhood, and in her spare time, she wrote children’s books for fun and read voraciously, prompting close friends to refer to her as a “living encyclopedia of odd information.”

On the Monday morning after she got home, Alesha sat in traffic at a parkway off -ramp, still in discomfort from the neck pain and the nausea. She had new symptoms, too, dizziness and feeling faint. Regardless of the pain, she readied herself for work, but she had an uneasy feeling about her job.

Over the weekend, Alesha had received multiple text messages from her employer, a jewelry company in Central Oregon, about an issue with her company email and password, but with no cell reception, she couldn’t respond to her manager’s concerns. After searching through Alesha’s desk for her email password and not finding it, but instead finding an important legal document she’d already dealt with but had not yet disclosed to her boss, the company hired a specialist to get around the digital safeguards. That day, Alesha was let go from her position.

Purchase the Book to Learn More About Alesha’s Journey!