CHARLESTON, WV (LOOTPRESS) – The West Virginia Department of Health (DH) is proud to announce a major public health initiative to become a Stroke Smart State, a designation that reflects a strong commitment to increasing awareness, improving early recognition, and ensuring rapid response to stroke symptoms.
Stroke Smart West Virginia officially launches on May 1, 2026, in alignment with Stroke Awareness Month. This statewide initiative focuses on implementing early adoption and comprehensive public awareness campaigns. Through strategic alliances with health systems across the state, the program underscores West Virginia’s commitment to improving stroke recognition and patient outcomes.
“This is an incredible collaborative effort that can help bring awareness to stroke and, hopefully, save lives,” shared Secretary of Health Dr. Arvin Singh. “West Virginia faces elevated stroke risk due to high rates of hypertension, diabetes, tobacco use, obesity, atrial fibrillation, and rural barriers to timely emergency care. Delays in stroke recognition and EMS activation remain primary drivers of poor outcomes. States implementing coordinated stroke awareness initiatives demonstrate measurable improvements in public recognition of stroke symptoms, reduced pre-hospital delays, and improved treatment times.”
Stroke is a leading cause of death and long-term disability in the United States, but outcomes can be dramatically improved when warning signs are recognized early and treated immediately. Central to this initiative is educating the public about the BEFAST acronym, a simple and effective tool that helps identify the most common signs of stroke:
B – Balance: Sudden loss of balance or coordination
E – Eyes: Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes
F – Face: Facial drooping, uneven smile or sudden severe headache
A – Arms: Sudden weakness or numbness in the arms or legs
S – Speech: Slurred speech or difficulty speaking
T – Time: Time to call 911 immediately
“Every second counts when it comes to stroke,” said Acting State Health Officer Dr. Mark McDaniel. “By teaching people to BEFAST, we empower communities to act quickly, which can mean the difference between recovery and lifelong disability, or even life and death.”
The Stroke Smart West Virginia initiative focuses on public education campaigns, partnerships with healthcare providers, and community engagement to ensure that residents understand the urgency of stroke symptoms and the importance of calling emergency services without delay.
In addition to statewide efforts, counties across West Virginia are encouraged to join the movement and proclaim themselves as Stroke Smart Counties, recognizing their commitment to stroke awareness and education. This local-level engagement ensures that lifesaving information reaches communities of all sizes.
For more information on how to become a Stroke Smart County or to access educational resources, visit Stroke Smart West Virginia | WV Department of Health.
