Stroke awareness campaign is back on region's TV screens (From The Northern Echo)

Stroke awareness campaign is back on region's TV screens

12:10am Monday 4th March 2013 in News By Barry Nelson, Health Editor

A HARD-HITTING campaign which aims to save lives by showing people how to spot the signs and symptoms of stroke has returned to TV screens in the regions.

The Act FAST campaign aims to show people the signs and symptoms they should look for to identify someone suffering from a stroke, with the aim of making everyone a potential 'stroke-saver'.

Following a successful campaign last year, the NHS in England saw a 25 per cent rise in stroke related 999 calls, and a 19 per cent rise in stroke sufferers being seen quicker.

The Act FAST campaign has been running since 2009. It features striking TV adverts which will run until March 24 and aims to help people identify the symptoms of stroke by acting FAST.

It explains that people should look for:

• Facial weakness - can the person smile? Has their mouth or eye drooped?
• Arm weakness - can the person raise both arms?
• Speech problems - can the person speak clearly and understand what you say?

Peter Mercer, Director of the North of England Cardiovascular Network, said: "We are fortunate to have some of the best stroke services in the country here in the North-East.

"However, to ensure that stroke victims receive the best possible outcomes, it's vital that the signs are spotted as soon as possible."

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