A new ‘act FAST’ campaign has been launched to increase awareness of the signs and symptoms of stroke.
Call 999 immediately if you spot the signs of a stroke – even if you aren’t sure or the symptoms don’t seem much.
If you or a loved one does have a stroke, seeking treatment as quickly as possible will give you the best chance of recovery and will reduce the long-term impacts – such as disability.
Act FAST
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 will give you 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 the NHS website about more information to Act FAST.
Accessible services
BSL (British Sign Language) users can make a BSL video relay call to 999 using the 999 BSL website or app.
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 the emergency sms website.
