One stroke every five minutes in the UK
NHS England, in association with the Stroke Association, has relaunched the Act F.A.S.T. stroke campaign this week.
The campaign highlights that a stroke is a medical emergency and urges people to call 999 immediately if they notice any single one of the signs of a stroke in themselves or others.
Stroke is the fourth single leading cause of death in the UK and the single largest cause of complex disability. Around 100,000 people have strokes each year in the UK – that’s around one stroke in every five minutes.
Recognising the symptoms and acting promptly ensures that people having a stroke can get emergency treatment earlier, giving them the best chance of survival and recovery.
The Act F.A.S.T. message is a prompt to look out for the most common 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, it’s time to call 999
Read more in the news story on the Devon County Council website>