Charles County agreed to become a “Stroke Smart County” after a unanimous decision at the March 19 county commissioners’ meeting.
The Stroke Smart initiative was adopted locally by the town of La Plata in February 2022 and it was subsequently adopted statewide by former Gov. Larry Hogan (R) in May 2022.
“Being stroke smart is a community effort,” Shellee Stine, the stroke coordinator for University of Maryland Charles Regional Medical Center, said. “It takes the police, it takes the hospital, it takes the rescue squads, it takes our government, it takes everyone’s involvement to make a difference.”
Every one in 19 deaths is because of a stroke, according to the American Stroke Association.
Strokes are the fifth leading cause of death in the United States, the third leading cause of death in Maryland and the fifth leading cause of death in Charles County, a presentation from Charles Regional Medical Center said.
In 2023, University of Maryland Charles Regional Hospital treated 218 patients with diagnosed strokes.
Stine stressed that there are a number of factors that go into having a stroke, including hereditary ones. A person cannot change the hereditary factors, but you can reduce the overall risk by looking into what is controllable.
Thirty-seven patients were treated with clot-busting medications in order to help stop their stroke, and eight were transferred for surgical intervention to help stop their stroke, according to the Charles Regional Hospital presentation.
Charles County will join Frederick, Carroll, Prince George’s, Anne Arundel, St. Mary’s and Hartford counties in the effort.
Initial partnership efforts will include posting educational flyers on the Charles County government webpage, posting stroke education awareness, prevention and recognition information in all the county government buildings and allowing Charles Regional hospital representatives to attend events when possible to distribute stroke education and to be present to educate the public in the areas of stroke awareness, prevention and recognition.
Efforts have already been underway in La Plata since the 2022 adoption of the initiative to educate the community.
The La Plata Police Department assisted in educating the public on stroke awareness through their community event, Coffee with a Cop, in 2022.
A resolution will be presented to the county commissioners in May, to align with Stroke Awareness Month, for them to officially adopt the designation.
Commissioner Thomasina “Sina” Coates (D) shared that her family has had a history of strokes and appreciated the hospital’s presentation.
“This is going to be very helpful to a lot of families,” she said.
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