Ochsner LSU Health Announces Third Annual BEFAST Event for Stroke Awareness Month

SHREVEPORT, La. – In recognition of May as Stroke Awareness Month, Ochsner LSU Health invites the public to attend the third annual BEFAST for Stroke Awareness event. The community gathering is set for Saturday, May 2, from 9 a.m. to noon at The Warehouse at Grace Community United Methodist Church, 9400 Ellerbe Road in Shreveport.

The free event will promote health education in a welcoming environment. Attendees can take advantage of complimentary health screenings to monitor their well-being and connect with local health professionals. Activities offered include glucose and lipid checks, blood pressure screenings, BMI calculations and identification of individual risk factors with personalized health counseling. Guests will have opportunities to participate in weight management and exercise classes, explore healthy diet options through live cooking demonstrations, and access information about sleep apnea.

A primary goal of the event is to teach the public how to recognize the early signs of a stroke. Organizers will highlight the “BE FAST” acronym, a widely used educational tool that makes life-saving medical information easy to remember in an emergency. BEFAST stands for:

• B – Balance: Sudden loss of balance or coordination
• E – Eyes: Sudden blurred or lost vision in one or both eyes
• F – Face: Facial drooping, usually on one side
• A – Arm: Arm weakness or numbness, often affecting one side of the body
• S – Speech: Slurred speech or difficulty speaking or understanding
• T – Time: Time to call 911 immediately if someone shows any of these symptoms.

This easy-to-remember acronym prompts people to be alert for a sudden loss of balance, vision problems, face drooping, arm weakness or numbness, and speech difficulty. The last letter, “T,” is a reminder to call 911 right away if any of these symptoms appear. Recognizing these signs and seeking immediate medical help can make a critical difference in stroke recovery.

The event reinforces Ochsner LSU Health’s commitment to supporting the community beyond medical care by addressing key health topics such as drug, alcohol and smoking cessation. Educational speakers will provide expert guidance and encouragement, empowering attendees at every stage of their health journey. At the same time, children can take part in a variety of interactive activities and fitness demonstrations designed just for them. This initiative aims to engage the local community while providing vital resources to improve long-term public health outcomes.

Ochsner LSU Health encourages everyone to attend this event and learn how to protect their loved ones. For more information and to see all upcoming events, visit ochsnerlsuhs.org/cal.

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ABOUT OCHSNER LSU HEALTH

The Ochsner LSU Health System of North Louisiana (Ochsner LSU Health) is a partnership between Ochsner Health, the largest health system in the state of Louisiana, and LSU Health Shreveport, which includes the Schools of Medicine, Allied Health Professions and Graduate Studies and a robust research enterprise. Ochsner LSU Health provides healthcare to more than 165,000 patients across North Louisiana. With numerous convenient locations, Ochsner LSU Health includes multiple outpatient facilities, clinics, three acute care hospitals — including North Louisiana’s only Level I Trauma Center and Level II Pediatric Trauma Center at its acute care hospital and a newly renovated hospital with women's and children's services in Shreveport, La. and an acute care hospital in Monroe, La designated as a Level III Trauma Center — as well as Louisiana Behavioral Health, providing inpatient and intensive outpatient mental health services in partnership with Oceans Healthcare. The system has more than 4,200 employees that work alongside the Ochsner LSU Health Physician Group of 950 physicians and residents in more than 65 specialties and subspecialties.