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Act F.A.S.T. stroke campaign – Easy Read materials

Download the easy read poster about the signs of Stroke here>

Download the easy read leaflet about the signs of Stroke here>

Public Health England, supported by the Stroke Association, has relaunched the national “Act F.A.S.T.” stroke campaign.

The campaign raises awareness of the signs of stroke and reinforces the importance of acting F.A.S.T. and calling 999 if they notice any single one of the signs in themselves or others.

The F.A.S.T. (Face, Arms, Speech, Time) acronym has featured in the advertising for a number of years and provides a memorable way of identifying the most common signs of a stroke, whilst emphasising the importance of acting quickly by calling 999.

Think and Act F.A.S.T.

• Face – has their face fallen on one side? Can they smile?
• Arms – can they raise both arms and keep them there?
• Speech – is their speech slurred?
• Time to call 999 if you see any single one of these signs of a stroke

When Stroke Strikes Act F.A.S.T. Call 999

If you are a BSL user, deaf, have hearing loss or a speech impairment you can text the emergency services on 999 but you need to register your phone in advance. Find out more at emergencysms.net

A stroke is known as a ‘brain attack’ and there are more than 100,000 incidence of stroke each year in the UK, causing around 34,000 deaths. It is a medical emergency that requires immediate attention as every minute is vital. That is why calling 999 is so crucial. An ambulance can give stroke patients those extra precious minutes, through faster and more specialist treatment via their knowledge of the nearest appropriate Hyper Acute Stroke Unit.

Whether it is a friend, loved one or even a stranger, dialing 999 quickly and acting F.A.S.T saves lives and gives stroke patients their best chance at recovery and could reduce the long-term effects.

For more information visit nhs.uk/ActFAST