Act FAST
This campaign highlights that a stroke is a medical emergency and the public are urged to take the below symptoms seriously and call 999 immediately if they notice any single one of them in themselves or others.
The FAST acronym has featured in the advertising for a number of years and is a simple test to help people identify stroke symptoms:
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– to call 999 if you see any one of these signs.
Other stroke symptoms people should be aware of include:
•Sudden loss of vision or blurred vision in one or both eyes
•Sudden weakness or numbness on one side of the body
•Sudden memory loss or confusion
•Sudden dizziness, unsteadiness or a sudden fall, especially with any of the other symptoms
Stroke is a medical emergency. The public is being urged to take the above symptoms seriously and call 999 without delay if they notice any one of them in themselves or others, even if they are unsure. One of the main objectives of the campaign is get people who witness somebody showing stroke symptoms to overcome their initial reluctance to call. They are being asked to ‘Make the Call. Dial 999’ even if they are not sure that it is a stroke. The primary audience for the campaign is people aged 50 and over, as this age group are more likely to experience a stroke.
Even if you are not sure, Act FAST, make the call, dial 999.