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Act FAST stroke awareness campaign launched (6 February 2017)

Date: 06/02/2017
Duncan Lewis, Legal News Solicitors, Act FAST stroke awareness campaign launched

Public Health England (PHE) has launched its Act FAST stroke awareness campaign, to remind people of the main symptoms of stroke and the importance of calling 999 immediately.

FAST stands for Face, Arms, Speech and Time – both the symptoms of stroke and placing emphasis on the fact that acting quickly and calling 999 is essential to ensure the best possible outcome for stroke victims.

Strokes kill more than 40,000 people every year and leave around two-thirds of stroke survivors with a disability.

There are multiple reasons why people don't act as fact as they should when they suspect a stroke; research suggests that 24% of people would wait to call an ambulance when someone is having a stroke because they believe that two or more signs of a stroke have to be evident before they can be sure. Others also feel that they need to get permission to act on behalf of others before calling 999.

As part of the campaign, new films will encourage everyone – whether they are a stranger in the street, a family member at home or the person themselves – not to hesitate and make the emergency call when they see any of one of the main stroke symptoms:

Face – has their face fallen on one side? Can they smile?
Arms – can they raise both their arms and keep them there?
Speech – is their speech slurred?

Additional symptoms of stroke and mini stroke can 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.

PHE’s National Director for Health and Wellbeing, Professor Kevin Fenton, said:

“Stroke is one of the leading causes of death in the country – and the faster someone experiencing a stroke gets emergency treatment, the more chance that person has of surviving and avoiding serious disability.

“It is crucial to Act FAST when you see any single one of the symptoms of stroke – and do not delay making that all-important 999 call.”


Experimental and Social Psychologist, University College London, Dr Lasana Harris, added:

“We always look to make sense of a situation – and even if someone appears to be having a stroke, we may worry about causing offence or mutual embarrassment. If no one else acts, then we ourselves may not see it as an emergency.

“However, the imagined consequences of action are minor compared to the consequences of inaction when someone is having a stroke, so act first and worry later.”


Chief executive of the Stroke Association, Juliet Bouverie, said:

“We know people recognise the signs of stroke, but they aren’t taking the right action at the right time – a stroke is a brain attack and acting fast makes a huge difference.

“You are more likely to survive a stroke and make a better recovery if you call 999 on spotting any one of the symptoms – the quicker you act, the more of the person you save.”


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