Stroke Smart West Virginia Marks Six Months of Statewide Stroke Awareness and Community Engagement
Six months after launching Stroke Smart West Virginia, the West Virginia Department of Health (DH) is recognizing significant momentum in its statewide effort to increase stroke awareness, strengthen community education, and encourage West Virginians to recognize the signs of stroke and act quickly.
Launched May 1, 2026, during Stroke Awareness Month, Stroke Smart West Virginia was established with the goal of making West Virginia a Stroke Smart State. The initiative, created through statewide partnerships, brings together public education, healthcare partnerships, and community engagement to help residents understand that stroke is a medical emergency and that rapid recognition and activation of emergency medical services can make a critical difference.
A key component of the initiative is the expansion of Stroke Smart Counties. Communities across West Virginia are encouraged to formally recognize their commitment to stroke awareness and education by proclaiming themselves Stroke Smart.
In the first six months of the initiative, eight counties have joined Stroke Smart West Virginia as Stroke Smart Counties:
• Barbour County
• Kanawha County
• Lewis County
• Marion County
• Monongalia County
• Preston County
• Putnam County
• Randolph County
“Every community has an important role to play in helping West Virginians recognize the warning signs of stroke and understand the urgency of calling 911,” said Secretary of Health Dr. Arvin Singh. “The commitment demonstrated by these counties during the first six months of Stroke Smart West Virginia shows what can happen when communities, healthcare providers and public health partners work together around a common goal. I would also like to thank the incredible work of Vandalia Health for continuing to be a champion for this effort across our local communities. Their commitment to awareness, education, and action is making a tangible difference for the people of this state who are either at risk of stroke themselves or know someone who is.”
BEFAST: Recognizing the Signs of Stroke
Central to Stroke Smart West Virginia is the BEFAST acronym, which provides a simple way for residents to remember common warning signs:
B — Balance: Sudden loss of balance or coordination
E — Eyes: Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes
F — Face: Facial drooping, an uneven smile or sudden severe headache
A — Arms: Sudden weakness or numbness in the arms or legs
S — Speech: Slurred speech or difficulty speaking
T — Time: Time to call 911 immediately
“Knowing the signs of stroke is one of the most important things an individual, family member, friend, or coworker can do,” said Acting State Health Officer and Acting Public Health Commissioner Dr. Mark McDaniel. “When someone is experiencing stroke symptoms, time matters as immediate treatment may reduce long-term effects and even help prevent death. We want every West Virginian to know how to BEFAST and to understand that the next step is to call 911.”
Building a Stroke Smart State
West Virginia faces significant challenges related to stroke risk, including high rates of conditions and behaviors associated with stroke as well as barriers to timely emergency care in rural communities. The statewide initiative is designed to address those challenges by bringing stroke education directly into communities and strengthening awareness of the importance of rapid emergency response.\
Over the past six months, Stroke Smart West Virginia has continued to encourage local governments, healthcare organizations, emergency medical services, community organizations and residents to make stroke awareness part of everyday health conversations.
The Department of Health is encouraging additional counties to join the effort and become Stroke Smart Counties. Counties interested in participating can access the Stroke Smart County proclamation and other educational resources through the Department's Stroke Smart West Virginia website page.
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