At the first sign of a stroke, call 999
Even if it doesn’t seem like much, at the first sign of a stroke call 999.
A stroke strikes every five minutes. Every year in the UK, there are around 100,000 strokes, causing 38,000 stroke-related deaths, and it is a leading cause of disability.
The first sign of a stroke might not seem serious. Like not being able to raise your arm, or struggling to smile, or slurring when you speak.
Stroke symptoms can be less dramatic, painful or obvious than you might expect. Even if it doesn’t seem like it, any sign of a stroke is always an emergency, so call 999 immediately if you or someone else experiences a single symptom.
A stroke is a medical emergency that requires immediate attention as every minute is vital. Acting FAST on any sign of a stroke gives stroke patients quicker access to specialist treatment that can be life-saving and could reduce the long-term effects such as a disability.
Whether it is a friend, loved one or even a passer-by, dialling 999 quickly saves lives.
Face or Arm or Speech, at the first sign, it’s Time to call 999.
Visit www.nhs.uk/ActFAST for more information.
BSL (British Sign Language) users can make a BSL video relay call to 999 using the 999 BSL website or app. Visit 999BSL.co.uk
Text relay users can call 18000 to contact 999.
If you are a BSL user, deaf, have hearing loss or communication difficulties you can text 999 by registering your phone in advance. Visit www.emergencysms.co.uk
As Black people are almost twice as likely to have a stroke as White people and, on average, people of Black African, Black Caribbean and South Asian descent in the UK have strokes earlier on in their lives, the campaign will be targeting Black and South Asian communities.
High blood pressure, diabetes and sickle cell are significant risk factors that can contribute to increasing the likelihood of having a stroke, and there is a high prevalence of these diseases in Black and South Asian communities.
In addition to this, there are often cultural, religious and language barriers preventing these groups from seeking medical advice early.
