‘Help us help you’ Act FAST Campaign
Even if it doesn’t seem like it, any sign of stroke is always an emergency, so call 999 immediately if you or someone else experiences a single symptom. The first signs of a stroke include:
• Face weakness – it might be hard to smile, and one side of your face may droop (fall)
• Arm weakness – you may not be able to fully lift both arms and keep them there because of weakness or numbness in one arm
• Speech problems – you may slur your words or sound confused
Other symptoms that could be the first sign you or someone else is having a stroke include:
• Sudden weakness or numbness on one side of your body (including in your leg)
• Sudden loss of vision or blurred vision in one or both eyes
• Sudden difficulty speaking or thinking of words
• Sudden memory loss or confusion
• Sudden severe headache
• Sudden dizziness, unsteadiness or a sudden fall, especially with any of the other signs
Any sign of a stroke is always an emergency – at the first sign, call 999.
Act FAST. Face or arm or speech, at the first sign, it’s time to call 999.
Visit Symptoms of a stroke – NHS for more information.
Think and act F.A.S.T., the signs of stroke are:
- Face – has their face fallen on one side? Can they smile?
- Arms – can they raise both their arms and keep them there?
- Speech – is their speech slurred?
- Time – time to call 999
National Statistics Nearly four in 10 (39%)people wouldn’t call 999 first if someone they were with was suddenly slurring their speech, despite this being a key symptom of a stroke
Over a quarter (26%)of people admitted they are not confident in recognising signs of a stroke.
Almost half of people (49%) wouldn’t call 999 first if they noticed they suddenly couldn’t raise their arm, although it is a key symptom of a stroke.