Think FAST! Stroke campaign goes live

Think FAST! Stroke campaign goes live

A nationwide stroke campaign has begun following a hugely successful trial which doubled the number of people able to recognise the main symptoms of a stroke.

The Ministry of Health is funding a nationwide ‘FAST’ campaign, based on the Stroke Foundation’s pilot campaign that was run in the Waikato region 18 months ago.

The Stroke Foundation, Health Promotion Agency and Ministry of Health are encouraging everyone to learn the FAST message to help reduce the damage caused by stroke.

“FAST is a life-saver,” Stroke Foundation CEO Mark Vivian said.

An easily-understood television package and innovative radio strategy are at the heart of the two-month campaign, supported by promotion on websites and social media.

“We want every New Zealander to learn how to recognise any of the symptoms of stroke – and to ring 111 immediately,” Mr Vivian said.

“A stroke is very serious – it’s not something you make an appointment to see your GP about, or hope the symptoms go away.”

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?
• 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.

The two-month nationwide campaign follows an extremely successful pilot in the Waikato, and encouraging results overseas.

Waikato DHB’s Dr Sarah Fowler said: “Following the campaign here I have seen a real increase in patients and their 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.”

Before the Stroke Foundation’s pilot campaign, just under two 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 four out of 10. The campaign ran in October and November 2014.

Mr 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.

“The T in FAST is crucial – clot-busting drugs are very effective if they can be administered in a three-hour window.”

ABOUT THE 2014 WAIKATO CAMPAIGN
• The FAST message has been proven to identify 90% of strokes
• The 30-second TVC shown in the Waikato in October-November 2014 can be viewed at www.stroke.org.nz/See-a-Stroke-FAST, along with the posters, leaflets, fridge magnets and wallet cards distributed throughout the region.
• The online aspect of the campaign surpassed industry standards with click through rates from Facebook adverts nearly 5,500% higher than an average campaign.
• Traffic to www.stroke.org.nz increased well beyond normal during the campaign and Google analytics showed most of this traffic came from the Waikato area.

STROKE FACTS AND FIGURES
• Stroke is the third largest killer in New Zealand after heart disease and cancer
• Each year around 9,000 people have a stroke – over 2,500 die from stroke
• About 15% of all stroke survivors are institutionalised; disabilities from stroke make it one of the highest consumers of hospital beds, services and community support in New Zealand
• There are an estimated 60,000 stroke survivors in New Zealand
• Up to half of all stroke cases could be treated with clot-busting drugs (thrombolysis or tPa) if they arrive within three hours of the stroke’s onset at a hospital.
• Lifetime costs per stroke patient in New Zealand were estimated in 2009 at $73,600 per person, with a total cost to the country of over $450 million annually.

ENDS

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