World Stroke Day
This year 15 million people will suffer a stroke, 5.5 million will die worldwide. 1,000 of these are in the UK alone. Making it the 4th largest cause of death in England and Wales.
The Act FAST Campaign emphasises the importance of recognising any of the signs, to act quickly and to call 999 immediately in order to save lives and to potentially limit any long term effects.
The FAST (Face, Arms, Speech, Time) acronym is a simple way to help people identify the most common signs of a stroke and what to look out for in themselves and in others.
Face – has their face fallen on one side? Ask them to smile.
Arms – can they raise both arms and keep them there?
Speech – is their speech slurred? Ask them to repeat a simple phase
Time to call 999, if you observe any of these signs.
A stroke is a medical emergency that requires immediate medical attention.
Getting them to a hospital rapidly will more likely lead to a better recovery.
Act FAST. Make the Call. Dial 999.
