National Stroke Association Collaborates with NBC Universal in "The More You Know" Multi-platform Initiative
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
By: Taryn Fort

Brian Williams Participates in the Campaign and Urges People to Learn About Stroke Prevention and Symptoms and Response Method through Public Service Announcement

Contact: Taryn Fort
Director of Programs Marketing and Communications
(303) 754-0919; tfort@stroke.org

CENTENNIAL, CO – January 5, 2010 – National Stroke Association has collaborated with NBC Universal’s Emmy award-winning “The More You Know” public service campaign in producing a new stroke prevention public service announcement (PSA) and accompanying web resource. Both educational tools are part of a larger NBC Universal multi-platform initiative that aims to help Americans adopt and maintain healthy lifestyles. In connection with GE’s HEALTHYMAGINATION initiative, the multi-platform initiative focuses on critical health issues such as stroke prevention, diabetes, anti-smoking, recommended health screenings, physical activity and nutrition.

The centerpiece of the campaign includes PSAs featuring NBC Universal talent. NBC Nightly News anchor Brian Williams is featured in the stroke awareness PSA. Visit www.themoreyouknow.com/stroke-prevention to watch the PSA and access a stroke prevention webpage to learn how to quickly recognize and respond to stroke symptoms.

The stroke awareness televised PSA will debut on January 6, 2010, during an episode of “Mercy” airing on local NBC stations. The PSA will continue to air across NBC Universal platforms, including on-air, online, in-flight, mobile, taxis, collegiate universities and the Patient Channel, which reaches hospitals across the country.

Stroke is a brain attack and the third leading cause of death in America. More than 795,000 people experience a stroke each year, and two times more women die from stroke each year than breast cancer.

National Stroke Association urges everyone to watch the PSA and read more information about how to prevent stroke and use the F.A.S.T. method to quickly recognize stroke symptoms and respond to them by calling 911. The F.A.S.T. method is a stroke screening tool that assesses facial expression, arm movement and speech function and urges timely response to symptoms by calling 911 or getting to the hospital immediately.

For more information about stroke and National Stroke Association, visit www.stroke.org.

Act F.A.S.T.
FACE	Ask the person to smile. Does one side of the face droop?
ARMS	Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one arm drift downward?
SPEECH	Ask the person to repeat a simple sentence. Are the words slurred?  Can he/she repeat the sentence correctly?
TIME	If the person shows any of these symptoms, time is important.  Call 911 or get to the hospital fast. Brain cells are dying.

About National Stroke Association

Established in 1984, National Stroke Association is the only national organization in the U.S. that focuses 100 percent of its efforts on stroke. National Stroke Association achieves its mission to lower the incidence and impact of stroke by developing compelling community outreach programs, calling for continued improvement in the quality of stroke patient care, and educating both healthcare professionals and the general public about stroke.

About “The More You Know”

NBC Universal’s “The More You Know” is the longest running, most comprehensive network public service campaign in the media landscape. For more than two decades, the campaign continues to make a difference in communities across the country by raising awareness of important social issues and motivating viewers to take action.