Somers Point Barbershop Creates Buzz On Stroke Awareness

SOMERS POINT, NJ — The acronym "BE FAST" is plastered all over the Gas Up Barbershop and Shave Co. It's written down every mirror. The message covers the front desk that faces customers as they walk in.

That's because you never know when you'll need to utilize the stroke-awareness message. Owner and barber Mike Costello realized that all too quickly.

Costello was with his friend, who had endured a mini stroke. Fortunately, a bystander recognized the symptoms and called 911. Costello said his friend made a full recovery.

Rob Szapor, RN, director, AtlantiCare’s Neurosciences Institute, suggested a way Costello could help. Szapor, a friend of Costello's, asked staff to share the acronym BE FAST with clients.

Costello took the plan steps further, ensuring customers couldn't walk in without seeing the acronym. He wrote the acronym and what each letter stands for on each of his six mirrors: balance, eyes, face, arms and speech. The "t" stands for responding in a timely manner: call 911.

“We take care of what is on the outside of our client’s heads, so we’re happy to talk about protecting the brain inside people’s heads,” Costello said.

Putting it on the mirrors helps spark a conversation about stroke awareness with each customer, Costello said.

As each customer leaves, they receive an AtlantiCare magnet that highlights stroke symptoms and the importance of dialing 911.

AtlantiCare lists more detail on each letter of the abbreviation online:

• Balance: Does the person have a sudden loss of balance?
• Eyes: Has the person lost vision in one or both eyes?
• Face: Does the person's face look uneven?
• Arms: Is there weakness in one or both arms?
• Speech: Is the person's speech slurred? Does the person have trouble speaking or seem confused?
• Time: Call 911 now or dial the internal emergency number if you are at Atlantic City Campus or Mainland Campus.

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