Piedmont Eastside educates community on how to spot a stroke

Snellville, Ga. (June 1, 2026) – Piedmont Eastside Medical Center welcomed 200 community members and staff on May 27 for its first-ever interactive stroke education event, held in honor of American Stroke Month.

“Every minute during a stroke, you lose 1.9 million brain cells, so time is critical,” said Cierra Blank, RN, stroke manager at Piedmont Eastside and organizer of the event. “We wanted to create an interactive experience for attendees to really feel what stroke symptoms are like so that they remember the signs and act quickly by calling 911. We also wanted to offer the opportunity for everyone to get a free blood pressure reading since high blood pressure is the biggest risk factor for stroke.”

The event featured six hands-on activities that aligned with BE FAST, the acronym used to recognize warning signs of stroke:

• Balance problems, including dizziness or loss of coordination
• Eye problems, including blurred vision, double vision, or vision loss
• Face symptoms, including drooping or numbness on one side of the face
• Arm or leg numbness or weakness
• Speech difficulty, including slurred speech, trouble speaking, or inability to speak
• Time to call 911

Attendees engaged in interactive stations designed to simulate stroke symptoms. For example, participants attempted to wrap a present while wearing an arm weight and an oversized glove to better understand what arm weakness and sensation loss feel like. Another activity involved attendants sorting colored ping pong balls while wearing glasses designed to simulate visual changes that are common in strokes. Each completed activity earned a stamp, and participants also received a stamp for having their blood pressure checked. Those who completed all stations were entered into a raffle for a gift basket.

In addition to the activities, attendees were able to speak with Piedmont Eastside physicians and nurses about stroke prevention and heart health.

“This was so informative. I don’t have to worry now because I know what signs of stroke to look for,” said Shirley Johnson of Lilburn.