New data this year revealed a low awareness of the individual signs of a stroke, and 1 in 5 (20%) are not at all confident that they could recognise typical signs. However,
there are around 100,000 strokes in England, Scotland and Wales every year, with around 33,000 stroke related deaths, as well as stroke being a leading cause of disability.
The Act F.A.S.T. (Face, Arms, Speech, Time) acronym provides a memorable way of identifying the most common signs of a stroke and emphasises the importance of acting quickly by calling 999.
Think and Act F.A.S.T. if you see any single one of these signs of a stroke:
- Face – has their face fallen on one side? Can they smile?
- Arms – can they raise both arms and keep them there?
- Speech – is their speech slurred?
- Time – even if you’re not sure, call 999
When Stroke Strikes Act F.A.S.T. Call 999
A stroke is known as a ‘brain attack’. It is a medical emergency that requires immediate attention as every minute is vital. That is why calling 999 is so crucial. Early recognition of symptoms can give stroke patients those extra precious minutes, enabling faster access to specialist treatment.
Whether it is a friend, loved one or even a stranger, dialling 999 quickly and acting F.A.S.T. saves lives and gives stroke patients their best chance to access emergency procedures and to have recovery which could reduce the long-term effects such as a disability.