Act FAST – Call 111 for stroke symptoms!

Stroke is the third largest killer in NZ after heart disease and cancer. The Ministry of Health’s campaign to help people recognise the symptoms is anchoring around the acronym FAST

•FACE – Is their face drooping on one side? Can they smile?
•ARM – Is one arm weak? Can they raise both arms?
•SPEECH – Is their speech jumbled or slurred? Can they speak at all?
•TIME – Time is critical. Call 111.

If you notice stroke symptoms in a colleague, don’t just accept assurances such as: “I’ll be okay; I’ll just go and lie down for a moment”. A stroke is a health emergency – act FAST! Call 111.

You can download a poster to help staff identify the symptoms here.

There is also some useful information that may help in preventing a stroke here.