Health awareness and emergency response initiatives in Croatia

Medical professionals and local institutions in Croatia are conducting initiatives to improve emergency response and public awareness regarding cardiovascular and neurological health.

In Slavonski Brod, neurologists from the General Hospital ‘Dr. Josip Benčević’ organized a public health campaign for World Stroke Prevention Day. The campaign included free blood pressure and blood sugar testing to raise awareness of stroke risk factors. Medical staff emphasized the ‘GROM’ acronym—Speech, Arm, Smile, and Minute—to help citizens recognize symptoms. Dr. Vlatka Šimunić Martić noted that while stroke remains a leading cause of disability, advancements in thrombolytic therapies and helicopter transport to Osijek have improved outcomes.

In Daruvar, staff at the Daruvarske toplice recreational-tourist center completed ‘Start a Heart – Save a Life’ training to enhance their first aid skills. The facility also received an automated external defibrillator (AED) donated by the Croatian Institute for Emergency Medicine, which has been integrated into the national AED network to improve emergency equipment accessibility.