It’s National Stroke Week from 31 August to 6 September. This year the Stroke Foundation is celebrating everyday Australians who know and can recognise the signs of someone having a stroke.
These signs can be summed up by the acronym F.A.S.T. (Face. Arms. Speech. Time.).
As part of its campaign, the Stroke Foundation is seeking StrokeSafe speakers in Port Macquarie, Coffs Harbour and Lismore to help raise awareness of F.A.S.T. signs of stroke.
StrokeSafe speakers present talks to workplaces and community groups, sharing potentially life-saving information about how to recognise and prevent stroke.
NSW resident Bob Carnaby, 73, is a StrokeSafe speaker. Bob wants to do all he can to help others avoid stroke by encouraging them to understand their risk factors and make healthy lifestyle choices.
“I became a StrokeSafe speaker after being diagnosed with an irregular heartbeat, otherwise known as atrial fibrillation, a condition that can lead to strokes,” Bob said.
“Determined not to become another statistic, I took steps to manage this condition and reassessed my own diet and lifestyle. I also decided to help others learn about what they could do to avoid stroke.”
When a stroke strikes, it kills up to 1.9 million brain cells each minute, but prompt medical treatment can stop this damage.
The Stroke Foundation has designated the NSW North Coast a stroke ‘hotspot’. It says regional Australians are 19 per cent more likely to have a stroke than their city counterparts.
“Not enough of us know the F.A.S.T. signs of stroke, but if that knowledge can be spread, lives can be saved,’’ Bob said.
The F.A.S.T. test, which can be found here, involves three simple questions:
- 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.
Stroke Foundation New South Wales State Manager Rhian Paton-Kelly said stroke can happen to anyone at any age and any time.
“By sharing the F.A.S.T. message, you could help save a life,” Ms Paton-Kelly said.
For more information about becoming a StrokeSafe speaker, click here.