Our Lady of Bellefonte Hospital (OLBH) will host a free stroke education luncheon and health screenings Friday, May 17, at 11 a.m. on the fifth floor of Bellefonte Centre (1000 Ashland Drive) on the OLBH campus.

Speaking at the event will be OLBH stroke medical director Melissa Smith, D.O. May is Stroke Awareness Month. Stroke is the third leading cause of death in the United States and the number one cause of disability. More than 140,000 people die each year from stroke in the United States.

“The first thing you should do is know your risks and do everything within your power to lower them,” Smith said. “A stroke is a medical emergency, no question about it, and every minute lost in receiving definitive treatment means additional damage to your brain.”

To RSVP for the free luncheon, call the OLBH CareLine at (606) 833-CARE (2273) or register online at www.olbh.com.