Stroke Education at the YMCA: Knowing the Signs Can Save a Life

3.18.26
Gretchen Phillips (L), Board President and Angie West, Presenter

On March 2, Stroke Support Association (SSA) partnered with the Los Altos YMCA in Long Beach to deliver an important message: when it comes to stroke, knowledge can save lives.

Leading the presentation was Angie West, MSN, RN, CCRN-K, SCRN, ANVP, Program Manager Neuroscience/Stroke at MemorialCare Long Beach Medical Center, who is also a member of SSA’s Board of Directors. Drawing on her clinical expertise, Angie guided attendees through the critical facts about stroke—how to recognize it, what causes it, and what can be done to prevent it.

One of the most important takeaways from the presentation was that stroke often does not cause pain. Unlike a heart attack, a stroke can occur silently, which makes recognizing the warning signs even more critical.

Angie introduced the audience to the acronym BE FAST, a simple tool that can help anyone quickly identify the symptoms of a stroke and take action:

  • B – Balance: Sudden loss of balance or coordination
  • E – Eyes: Sudden vision changes
  • F – Face: Facial drooping
  • A – Arms: Arm weakness
  • S – Speech: Slurred or difficult speech
  • T – Time: Call 911 immediatel

When stroke symptoms appear, every minute counts. Acting quickly can dramatically improve outcomes and reduce the risk of long-term disability.

The presentation also highlighted the major controllable risk factors for stroke, including high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol, smoking, obesity, and physical inactivity. Angie emphasized that many strokes are preventable and that managing these conditions—along with taking medications such as blood thinners or statins as prescribed—can significantly reduce risk.

About a dozen YMCA members attended the session, creating an interactive and engaging discussion with thoughtful questions throughout the presentation. Also present were Gretchen Phillips, President of SSA’s Board of Directors, and Betsy Hardiman, Project Manager.

Participants left with a deeper understanding of stroke and its urgency. One attendee shared this powerful reflection:

“I learned to recognize the symptoms of a stroke. But most importantly, I learned that time is of the essence! Call 911 STAT! Be fast. A stroke has symptoms but is relatively painless. The consequences of ignoring stroke symptoms can be permanent damage.”
— Keith Quinliven

For SSA, the event reinforced how vital community education can be. By equipping people with the knowledge to recognize stroke and act quickly, lives—and futures—can be changed.

Stroke Support Association is committed to spreading awareness and empowering communities with life-saving information. If your organization would like to host a stroke education presentation, please contact projectmanager@strokesupportassoc.org to learn more.

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