ACT F.A.S.T.
ACT F.A.S.T. is a new national government campaign aimed at helping people to recognise the signs of stroke, and act to save lives and reduce the damage caused.
A stroke is a medical emergency that requires immediate medical attention, so recognising the signs and calling 999 for an ambulance is crucial.
Quick diagnosis of stroke is important to understanding the cause, the damage done and what immediate medical treatment is needed.
The sooner somebody who has had a stroke gets the right medical attention the better their chances of a good recovery. So minutes really do matter.
A stroke is caused by a disturbance of blood supply to the brain. Strokes are the leading cause of disability in the UK and the third most common cause of death after cancer and coronary heart disease.
There are two main types of stroke, ischaemic and haemorrhagic which require different types of treatment.
A TIA (Transient Ischaemic Attack) or 'mini-stroke' is similar to a stroke and has the same signs, but gets better within 24 hours.
However, it is important not to wait and see if the signs get better as it could be a full stroke, and although TIA may not itself cause any serious illness it could be a warning sign of a more serious stroke and requires the same F.A.S.T. action to call 999 for an ambulance.
FAST requires an assessment of three specific symptoms of stroke:
- Facial weakness - can the person smile? Has their mouth or eye drooped?
- Arm weakness - can the person raise both arms?
- Speech - can the person speak clearly and understand what you say?
- Time to call 999
Further information here: www.nhs.uk/actfast/Pages/default.aspx
