Article by District Intern: Kailynda Hackler
The “Mega Brain” through the UAMS AR Saves program was at Pea Ridge Middle School and Pea Ridge Intermediate this week, teaching students about strokes and recognition. The Mega Brain is an inflatable, life-size model of the human brain. The Mega Brain allowed students to see firsthand what happens inside the brain during a stroke or head injury. Students got an up-close look at how strokes affect the brain and how important it is to recognize the symptoms quickly. The program used this visual tool to demonstrate the importance of early intervention, showing that knowing what to look for could save lives.
UAMS created the AR Saves (Arkansas Stroke Assistance through Virtual Emergency Support) program, which uses telemedicine to provide immediate, life-saving treatments to stroke patients 24 hours a day. Through the program, students learned about the BE FAST acrostic, a simple way to remember the signs of a stroke: Balance, Eyesight, Face, Arm, Speech, and Time. Understanding these key symptoms can be the difference between life and death, making it crucial to act fast if a stroke is suspected. With stroke being the fifth leading cause of death in the United States, it’s a message that resonates with everyone—especially when students are learning that their own lifetime risk is significant, with one in six men and one in five women facing the possibility of a stroke.
The program also highlighted that strokes don’t just happen to adults. Children, too, can suffer from a stroke, so it’s important for students to keep an eye out for the warning signs in their friends and family. This experience was eye-opening for everyone, giving them the knowledge and confidence to act quickly in an emergency. It’s a powerful reminder that education and awareness can make a life-saving difference, and the students now have the tools to help save lives in the future.
UAMS is planning to visit Pea Ridge Primary sometime next month. Thank you UAMS for giving our students this experience, and thank you to Nurse Litchfield for helping make it happen!
