Act FAST - Stroke Campaign Posted or Updated on 5 Nov 2024

Even if it doesn’t seem like much, at the first sign of a stroke call 999.

A stroke strikes every five minutes. Every year in the UK, there are around 100,000 strokes, causing 38,000 stroke-related deaths, and it is a leading cause of disability.

Stroke symptoms can be less dramatic, painful or obvious than you might expect. The first sign of a stroke might not seem serious. Like not being able to raise your arm, or struggling to smile, or slurring when you speak.

Whether it is a friend, loved one or even a passer-by, any sign of a stroke is always an emergency, so call 999 immediately if you or someone else experiences a single symptom.

Acting FAST on any sign of a stroke gives patients faster access to specialist treatment that could save their life.

Face or Arm or Speech, at the first sign, it’s Time to call 999.

Visit www.nhs.uk/ActFAST for more information.

BSL (British Sign Language) users can make a BSL video relay call to 999 using the 999 BSL website or app. Visit 999BSL.co.uk

Text relay users can call 18000 to contact 999.

If you are a BSL user, deaf, have hearing loss or communication difficulties you can text 999 by registering your phone in advance. Visit www.emergencysms.co.uk