Stroke Foundation campaign going nationwide

Stroke Foundation campaign going nationwide

A successful stroke campaign is going national after it doubled the number of people able to recognise the signs of a stroke. The Ministry of Health is funding a nationwide ‘FAST’ campaign to be launched later this year, based on the Stroke Foundation’s pilot campaign that was run in the Waikato region 18 months ago.

News of the forthcoming campaign comes as a boost to national Stroke Awareness Week which runs from 4-10 April. The Stroke Foundation is encouraging everyone to learn the FAST message this week to help reduce the damage caused by stroke in New Zealand.

Waikato DHB’s Dr Sarah Fowler said: “Following the campaign here I have seen a real increase in patients and their families/whanau recognising the FAST acronym and repeating it to me on their arrival to our hospital. Many of them proudly tell me, I knew I had to come quickly as I knew the signs and didn’t want to miss out on my opportunity to get the best treatment in the fastest time.”

FAST is an internationally established acronym to help people remember three of the main signs of stroke. It stands for FACE – ARMS – SPEECH – TIME.

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

Before the Stroke Foundation’s pilot campaign just under 2 out of 10 people in the Waikato could identify three main signs of stroke. After six weeks of TV and other advertising of the FAST message that number had reached almost 4 out of 10. The campaign ran in October and November 2014.

Dr Fowler, who is the Clinical Director of Older Persons and Rehabilitation for Waikato DHB, continued: “Having come from London about 3 years ago I have had the privilege of seeing how an enormous, nationwide campaign and push for faster and focused stroke care can lead to a real and highly significant improvement in stroke outcomes. Public (and professional) awareness of FAST is the central point for much of this improvement and I hope its recognition will continue to grow amongst the NZ population.”

Stroke Foundation Chief Executive Mark Vivian said: “Thanks to the continued improvement in stroke services in DHBs all over New Zealand more patients than ever can receive life-saving treatment if they get to hospital quickly enough. There has never been a better time for a national FAST campaign and we are delighted to see it happen at last.”

ENDS

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