‘Help us help you’ Act FAST Campaign

Posted by: hollysimpson - Posted on:

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.