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Stroke prevention begins in the community. It means knowing the signs and symptoms of stroke (BEFAST) so you can quickly call 911 when you or someone around you is potentially experiencing a stroke. It also means taking the steps to help prevent a stroke such as a healthy diet, getting regular physical activity, and quitting smoking.

Each individual can do a great deal to prevent their own risk of a stroke, but it takes more to reduce the risk and result of stroke for everyone, everywhere. Community-Based Organizations (CBOs) are in a unique position to spread the word on identifying stroke signs and education on individual risk factors to all residents of an area.

As part of this effort, in September of 2022, the Coverdell Stroke Program began the Coverdell Community Stroke Partner designation. This effort brings together community partners from across Wisconsin, to be part of a collective effort to address stroke in our communities. If you would like to join, please view and submit this form, F-03091.

Can you recognize the signs of a stroke? BE FAST Bella is here to help.

The Wisconsin Coverdell Stroke Program created BE FAST Bella as a way to promote stroke awareness within communities.

Materials listed below show Bella with multiple signs of a stroke. Not only does the phrase “BE FAST” describe the six common signs of stroke, but also teaches people to act quickly and call 911 if they see these signs in themselves or others.

The BE FAST Bella materials are available as helpful tools to use for community education. Quick stroke recognition is the first step in assuring timely medical attention for stroke.

A majority of strokes are preventable. By making healthy lifestyle choices, like quitting smoking and controlling conditions which may already be present, such as hypertension and diabetes, a person can help to reduce their risk of stroke.

The Wisconsin Department of Health Services maintains active programs to assist people in the prevention and understanding of conditions like pre-diabetes and heart disease, as well as resources to help communities in their efforts to address nutrition and physical activity needs.

These BE FAST Bella materials can help with recognizing the signs of stroke. The Wisconsin Coverdell Stroke Program encourages hospitals, Emergency Medical Service (EMS) providers, and other patient care areas to promote BE FAST Bella. All items are available for downloading and printing, and you are welcome to add your organization’s logo prior to use. Open the link to the pdf files for the coloring book and bookmark for the full-sized version.

In addition, posters, coloring books, activity books, magnets and bookmarks can be ordered free of charge by contacting John Bowser – Director, Coverdell Stroke Program (john.bowser@dhs.wisconsin.gov). Materials are subject to availability.

The following graphics featuring BE FAST Bella are formatted to fit social media posts. Attach these images to your social media messages to promote stroke awareness in a visual way. Right click on the Bella Graphic and Banner files to "save" the image file, or "copy image" to paste the image directly on your social media pages.

Below you will find suggested posts and tweets.

With all Bella messages, we encourage use of a BE FAST Bella graphic. All graphics describe the signs of stroke and have the message to call 911.

For more general stroke information, go to the home page for the Wisconsin Coverdell Stroke Program.

The Wisconsin Coverdell Stroke Program highlights stroke care success stories throughout the state.

Beloit Health System in Beloit, Wisconsin, has standardized their processes across the stroke care continuum, provides education to all staff involved in treating stroke patients, and utilizes virtual consults with neurologists via a telestroke network.

Theda Clark Medical Center in Neenah, Wisconsin, uses advanced notification procedures where EMS alert the hospital when a stroke is suspected, allowing the hospital to assemble the stroke team before the patient arrives. They also review stroke cases bimonthly, utilize Get With The Guidelines® tools, and have established a stroke champion in the ER.

ProHealth Care hospitals in Oconomowoc and Waukesha, Wisconsin, have developed standard processes across the stroke care journey. A nurse practitioner provides resources and education to patients immediately after a stroke and during a patient’s recovery, which allows patients to discuss what they find important during their recovery.

Gundersen Moundview Hospital and Clinics in Friendship, Wisconsin, analyzed stroke data to determine what improvements to make. They provide staff education and reach out to the community by giving presentations to targeted audiences and distributing stroke outreach materials

Ascension All Saints Hospital in Racine, Wisconsin, has worked to coordinate seamless stroke care from EMS response to care in the hospital and during transfers. They have provided protocols for EMS to use in the field, coordinated consistent EMS education, and created a loop closure system to ensure that all care providers get results on the outcomes of the patients they treat.

Gundersen Health System in La Crosse, Wisconsin, instituted a new procedure which transfers stable stroke patients from the emergency department directly to the Neuroscience unit to allow one provider and nursing team to deliver care throughout a patient's stay.

Froedtert & the Medical College of Wisconsin maximized communication and enhanced teamwork between multiple disciplines as they worked to reduce their door-to-needle time.

Stroke care is changing rapidly. Current guidelines recommend the development of regional systems of care to ensure rapid, efficient, and seamless care of acute stroke patients. In many areas of the state, developing a regional approach to destination planning is not an available option, however, in Milwaukee County, it was. Milwaukee County EMS has proved that implementing bypass has not increased the time or distance to care and has provided access to care that people would not otherwise receive.

Poor efficiency in the emergency department (ED) can lead to prolonged hospital stays, overcrowding, and subsequent delays in definitive treatment. These were the motivating factors that led Aurora St. Luke’s South Shore to implement processes that would reduce delays in triaging, treating, and transferring acute stroke patients in their ED.

A dedicated nursing team at UW Hospitals and Clinics, implemented a quality improvement project to further engage patient in healthy lifestyle changes for secondary stroke prevention. The project provides continued education for stroke patients on reducing the risk factors for a stroke following discharge from the hospital.

Carol suffered from a stroke while working at Ascension NE Wisconsin St. Elizabeth Campus as a Quality Improvement Nurse. This story tells her courageous and inspirational stroke journey from its occurrence through rehabilitation to now.

The Wisconsin Coverdell Stroke Program is celebrating 10 years of working with partners across the state to improve stroke care for all. This Success Story highlights our top achievements from the last decade, and where we're headed in the future.

Staff at Ascension Columbia Saint Mary's Milwaukee worked together to obtain Comprehensive Stroke Center Certification through the Joint Commission in December 2020. This story describes the lessons learned, barriers and challenges, success factors, and how Ascension Columbia Saint Mary's Milwaukee maintains success.

Share this text in your e-newsletter, blog, or other publications to raise awareness about stroke in your community.

Sample social media messages (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram & other social media venues) Hashtags and twitter handles to use:

Check with the CDC, World Stroke Association, American Heart Association, and American Stroke Association via their websites. Many times they have campaigns each year to share and create awareness of stroke. These campaigns come with a variety of hashtags, social media handles, banners and images for public use.

Use any of these resources to promote stroke awareness in your own way:

More information: John Bowser, PhD, Coverdell Program Director 608-590-3162

Protecting and promoting the health and safety of the people of Wisconsin.