Action Bulgaria supports Boehringer Ingelheim Bulgaria with “Recognize Stroke. Act Fast!” Health Campaign

Action Bulgaria supports Boehringer Ingelheim Bulgaria with “Recognize Stroke. Act Fast!” Health Campaign

In April, Action Bulgaria both initiated and supported Boehringer Ingelheim Bulgaria’s “Recognize Stroke. Act Fast!” health awareness campaign.
 
According to statistics, Bulgaria has one of the highest numbers of stroke victims in Europe and the campaign aims to reduce long-term disability by encouraging a FAST response to stroke symptoms:
F – FACIAL weakness: Can the person smile? Has their mouth or eye drooped?
A – ARM weakness: Can the person raise both arms?
S – SPEECH problems: Can the person speak clearly and understand what you say?
T – TIME to call the emergency services.
The campaign was held in four Bulgarian cities – Sofia, Plovdiv, Stara Zagora and Pleven.
 
During the campaign, specially trained medical students, supported by the Action Bulgaria team, distributed educational materials and gave medical advice to visitors and patients in diagnostic and consultation centres on how to recognize the first signs of ischemic stroke. The end of the campaign was marked with a special event focusing on neurology specialists from all over Bulgaria. 
15 print and more than 59 online media covered the health awareness campaign during the first three days. More than 9,000 Bulgarians visited the diagnostic and consultation centres and had the opportunity to learn more about ischemic stroke, how to recognize its first signs, and to quiz medical students.