Essentia Health-Fosston hosting annual stroke and trauma awareness community event

In recognition of National Stroke Awareness Month and National Trauma Awareness Month, Essentia Health is hosting its annual community stroke and trauma awareness grill-out in Fosston on Saturday, May 17.

Open to all ages, the event will be from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on the sidewalk outside of Nord's Pharmacy, located at 115 Johnson Ave. N.

Attendees will be able to enjoy free brats, chips and water. A raffle will be held for a new bike and helmet. Educational materials about bike safety and stroke and trauma care at Essentia Health-Fosston will also be available.

Redesignated as an Acute Stroke Ready Hospital by the Minnesota Department of Health, Essentia Health-Fosston is one of 121 hospitals recognized in Minnesota for their preparedness to evaluate, stabilize and provide emergency treatment to patients with acute stroke symptoms.

"We are honored to continue to be recognized as a stroke-ready hospital," said Essentia Health-Fosston Administrator Mike Curtis. "Our clinical staff, managers and providers invest countless hours into maintaining our readiness to care for strokes, where every second counts. We want our community to know that their local hospital is equipped to provide this critical care, and is recognized as a quality, skilled facility alongside other Minnesota hospitals."

In the United States, someone has a stroke every 40 seconds, making it the fifth-leading cause of death, while trauma is the leading cause of death in young adults. In both cases, early identification and treatment lead to better outcomes.