Antonio Applauds Senate Passage of Bill to Raise Stroke Awareness

Today, Senate Democratic Leader Nickie J. Antonio (D-Lakewood) celebrated the Senate’s unanimous support of Senate Bill 20, which designates the first week of May as “Ohio Stroke Awareness Week.”

“Designating the first week of May as Stroke Awareness Week will help spread the crucial message that strokes can happen to anyone, at any time,” said Antonio. “I am proud that Senate Bill 20 has passed, marking a major step forward in educating Ohioans about the signals of an oncoming stroke. This legislation will ensure that more people are equipped to recognize the warning signs, which can ultimately save lives and prevent future strokes.”

Raising public awareness is crucial in educating people on the symptoms of stroke that might lead to earlier detections and better health outcomes for patients, including the acronym F.A.S.T., which stands for: 

• F: Face Drooping - Do you notice one side of their face drooping? Ask them to smile. Is the person's smile uneven?
• A: Arm Weakness - Are they experiencing weakness in one arm? If they raise both arms, does one drift down? 
• S: Speech Difficulty - Is speech slurred, are they unable to speak or hard to understand? Can they repeat a short sentence? Does what they are saying make sense? 
• T: Time to call 911 - Stroke is an emergency. Every minute counts. Call 911 immediately. Note the time when any of the symptoms first appear.

Senate Bill 20 now heads to the Ohio House for consideration.