The NHS has issued an urgent warning to “call 999” if you spot one of three symptoms in a bid to save lives. Health bosses have made it clear that the moment someone displays just one red flag sign of a stroke they need immediate medical attention.
Their plea comes as new data showed tens of thousands of people who have a stroke could be diagnosed and treated sooner.
According to figures, the average time between onset of first stroke symptoms and a 999 call being made was nearly an hour and a half.
The call is the first major update to the health body’s “Act FAST” campaign since 2009, telling the public to call 999 immediately if anyone experiences one of the three common symptoms. These are:
- Struggling to smile (face)
- Struggling to raise an arm (arms)
- Slurring their words (speech).
It comes as new polling of 2,001 adults in England found that 57 percent of respondents believed you should have two to three symptoms of a stroke before calling 999, despite just one being a sign of a medical emergency. And nearly two thirds of respondents (64 percent) said they would not call 999 as their first course of action if they noticed someone was suddenly struggling to smile.
England’s top doctor said immediate action at the first sign of a stroke “could help save and protect many more lives”. Professor Stephen Powis, the national medical director of NHS England, commented: “These figures highlight very clearly that we must do more to support people to recognise the symptoms of stroke in themselves and others and take action to call 999 at the earliest opportunity.
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“Stroke symptoms can be less obvious or dramatic than you might expect, but even if it doesn’t seem like it, any sign of stroke is always an emergency and it’s vital you call 999 immediately. This campaign is so important – greater awareness of the need to act fast and dial 999 could help save and protect many more lives, as we know that earlier recognition of symptoms and immediate action to call 999 can enable faster access to specialist treatment and the best chance of reducing long-term effects of a stroke.”
Around 100,000 people have a stroke each year in the UK, which occurs when the blood supply to part of the brain is cut off. Without prompt treatment a stroke can result in death or long-term disabilities such as paralysis, memory loss and communication problems.
Although more people are now surviving a stroke than ever before, strokes still remain the fourth single leading cause of death in the UK, with 38,000 stroke-related deaths each year. A stroke can happen to anyone at any age, but those at increased risk include people aged over 50 years old, people from a black or South Asian background, or those living with existing conditions such as high blood pressure, diabetes or sickle cell disease.
Dr David Hargroves, NHS national clinical director for stroke and consultant stroke physician, said: “When someone has a stroke, it’s estimated they may lose around two million brain cells a minute, which is why rapid diagnosis and treatment is critical – the first sign of a stroke might not seem like much, but face or arm or speech, at the first sign it’s time to call 999.
“Thanks to greater awareness of the symptoms and advances in NHS care, more people are now surviving a stroke than ever before, but there is much more to do to help save lives and reduce the long-term impact of strokes. Acting FAST remains vital – whether it is a friend, loved one or even a passer-by, dialling 999 quickly saves lives.”
There are other signs that you or someone else is having a stroke. These include:
- Weakness or numbness down one side of your body
- Blurred vision or loss of sight in one or both eyes
- Finding it difficult to speak or think of words
- Confusion and memory loss
- Feeling dizzy or falling over
- A severe headache.
The NHS adds: “Symptoms of a stroke can sometimes stop after a short time, so you may think you’re OK. Even if this happens, get medical help straight away.”
