SPRINGFIELD - "Happy Days After Stroke," the 2014 Pioneer Valley Stroke Survivors and Caregivers Forum, will be held May 7, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., at the MassMutual Center.
The forum, presented by the American Stroke Association, a division of the American Heart Association, will feature Boston comedian Chris Tabb, who was at the forum in 2012, as well as exhibitors, healthcare providers and stroke survivors sharing information with an expected attendance of several hundred.
The forum is open to the public. Admission is $5, and includes a light breakfast and lunch. For more information, or tickets, call the American Heart Association at (203) 303-3339.
Stroke is the fourth leading cause of death in America today. It’s also a major cause of severe long-term disability. If you or someone you know is experiencing a stroke, call 911 immediately and act F.A.S.T.
F.A.S.T. is an easy way to remember the sudden signs and symptoms of a stroke:
Face drooping: Does one side of the face droop or is it numb? Ask the person to smile.
Arm weakness: Is one arm weak or numb? Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one arm drift downward?
Speech difficulty: Is speech slurred, are they unable to speak, or are they hard to understand when asked to repeat a simple sentence?
Time to call 911: If the person shows any of these symptoms, even if the symptoms go away, call 9-1-1 and get them to the hospital immediately. Time lost is brain lost.
For more tips, tools and support, or to find out more about stroke, call 1-888-4-STROKE (1-888-478-7653) or visit http://www.strokeassociation.org/STROKEORG/