Community RepresentativeInteractionTips

  • Always represent yourself as a volunteer of National Stroke Association and any other affiliation you have.
  • Never give medical advice, even if you are training to become a professional. We encourage all individuals with medical questions to seek the advice of their personal healthcare professional. Only speak to medical diagnosis and treatment information as it pertains to your specific story.
  • Talk in plain English and be conversational.
  • Review your talking points before going into the community.
  • Be empathetic to the situations and stories you hear about stroke.
  • Be positive—don’t bring up negative issues, and reaffirm their experiences.
  • Remember the audience for the story—make it compelling and relevant for the listener.
  • Make it an opportunity to educate—tell them something they won’t hear in a commercial. Remember the Stroke Facts, or print a sheet to go over at the event.
  • If you are at a booth or fair, stand beside/behind your table so you can better engage your audience. This also makes you more approachable and successful in delivering your message.
  • Having a partner will make it easier to manage crowds of people and make downtime, setup and breakdown more manageable. Encourage your friends or family to join you!
  • When possible, illustrate your message with brief anecdotes or descriptions that dramatize your points.
  • If you are not an expert or are unsure of the answer on something asked, do NOT attempt to bluff your way through a question. Simply say, “I'm not really an expert on that, but I can get you in touch with someone at National Stroke Association to help answer that…” Then give that person our 1-800-STROKES number or point them to .
  • Religious views must be expressed solely from your personal perspective and not as that of National Stroke Association’s.
  • Product or therapy mentions must be expressed solely from your perspective and not as that of National Stroke Association’s.

Potential Participant Questions

What does National Stroke Association do?

National Stroke Association is a national healthcare nonprofit organization with more than 30 years of experience in working to reduce the incidence and impact of stroke by developing compelling education and programs focused on prevention, treatment and rehabilitation and support for all impacted by stroke. The organization offers a wealth of resources on

Why is it important to raise awareness about stroke?

Because recent studies show that the general public is dangerously uninformed about the fifth leading cause of death. It is important that people understand how to recognize and respond FAST to stroke warning signs and take steps to control any risk factors they might have for stroke. By telling my story, someone might be influenced to do one or both of these things.

What medications are available to treat <insert condition/disease>?

I’m not a doctor, so I can’t answer that question, but I urge anyone who is questioning their health to speak with a healthcare professional about their personal risk of stroke and what, if any, treatment is right for them.

How can someone prevent a stroke?

I urge anyone who is questioning their health to speak with a healthcare professional about their personal risk of stroke and what, if any, treatment is right for them. You can start by downloading National Stroke Association’s Stroke Risk Scorecard for free at and take it to your next doctor’s appointment.

Refer people to:

  • Sign up with you to get included in our emails and e-newsletters
  • Visit
  • Email us at
  • Call 1-800-STROKES for more information about us, to get materials, to connect to our call center to talk about stroke, or to get involved!