Students competed in Munson Medical Center stroke awareness video contest
A student from Traverse Bay Area Intermediate School District recently claimed a $1,000 prize for her school in a northwest Michigan competition to create a stroke awareness vide
Participants were asked to create a 60-second public service video that would help the public easily recall stroke symptoms and know what to do. The Munson Medical Center-sponsored competition received more than 20 entries from northern Michigan schools.
The top prize went to Zoe Anne Folker of the TBAISD. Second place resulted in a tie, with $500 checks going to schools represented by Eric Sowash of TBAISD, and a Kingsley High School team of Paul Caballero, Austin Darga, Allison Kintner, Alexa Leedy, and Sarah Luzzi. Munson Healthcare Foundations supplied a grant to fund the prizes.
“We congratulate the winners for their creativity in communicating a life-saving message and reminding us all about the importance of recognizing the signs of stroke,” said Christine Peplinski, R.N., stroke coordinator at Munson Medical Center.
Stroke is the fourth leading cause of death in the United States and the leading cause of disability. The F.A.S.T. acronym has been proven to be a useful tool for people to spot the signs of stroke and seek immediate help. Patients or their families should call 911 at the onset of symptoms. Important medication can be given if they arrive within a three-hour window. Treatment starts in an ambulance.
The F.A.S.T. message is:
Face – Ask the person to smile. Does one side of the face droop?
Arms – Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one arm drift downward?
Speech – Ask the person to repeat a simple phrase. Is their speech slurred or strange?
Time – Any of these symptoms should result in a call to 911 immediately.
The public may view the winning submissions at YouTube/munsonhealthcare.org.