The Stroke Foundation aims to ensure someone in every household knows the FAST signs of stroke.
FAST stands for:
• Face: check their face. Has their mouth drooped?
• Arms: Can they lift both arms?
• Speech: Is their speech slurred. Do they understand you?
• Time: Time is critical. If you see any of these signs, call triple zero (000) straight away.
There are 56,000 strokes each year in Australia – that is one every nine minutes.
Stroke is always a time-critical medical emergency. After a stroke 1.9 million brain cells die each minute. The faster treatment is sought, the better the chance of a good outcome.
Just 36% of Australians with stroke arrive at hospital within the 4.5 hour window for blood clot dissolving treatment, because not enough Australians know the signs of stroke and to call an ambulance.