Refreshed NHS FAST campaign highlights stroke risks ahead of winter

A stroke strikes every five minutes. Every year in the UK, there are around 100,000 strokes, causing 38,000 stroke-related deaths, and it is a leading cause of disability.

The NHS has refreshed its awareness campaign for recognising strokes and acting FAST. The refreshed FAST campaign raises public awareness to the more subtle symptoms that could indicate someone is having a stroke. This is particularly important ahead of cold weather, which can increase the risk of strokes, especially among older adults and those with pre-existing health issues.

Why Cold Weather Increases Stroke Risk

When temperatures drop, our blood vessels tend to narrow, which can raise blood pressure – a major risk factor for strokes. During winter, people may also be less active, which can contribute to other health problems linked to strokes, like obesity and diabetes. There’s also the risk of catching seasonal illnesses like flu, which can add strain to the cardiovascular system and increase the risks further.

What is the FAST Campaign?

The FAST acronym is a simple but effective tool that has been at the heart of stroke awareness in the UK for years:

• F for Face – Has the person’s face fallen on one side? Can they smile?
• A for Arms – Can the person raise both arms and keep them there?
• S for Speech – Is their speech slurred or unclear?
• T for Time – If you see any of these signs, it’s time to call 999 immediately.

Stroke symptoms can be less dramatic, painful or obvious than you might expect. Even if it doesn’t seem like it, any sign of a stroke is always an emergency, so call 999 immediately if you or someone else experiences a single symptom.

The refreshed campaign emphasises that every minute counts, so getting help right away can make a huge difference in preventing severe brain damage or even death.

Why Acting Quickly is Crucial

A stroke is a medical emergency that requires immediate attention. Acting FAST on any sign of a stroke gives stroke patients quicker access to specialist treatment that can be life-saving and could reduce the long-term effects such as a disability. Strokes block blood flow to the brain, which causes brain cells to die quickly. By acting FAST, people can help reduce the amount of damage caused and improve the chances of recovery.

So, whether it is a friend, loved one or even a passer-by, dialling 999 quickly saves lives.

Face or Arm or Speech, at the first sign, it’s Time to call 999.

Visit the NHS Act FAST page for more information, or if you would like to learn more about strokes visit the Stroke Association website.

BSL (British Sign Language) users can make a BSL video relay call to 999 using the 999 BSL website or app. Visit 999BSL.co.uk

Text relay users can call 18000 to contact 999.

If you are a BSL user, deaf, have hearing loss or communication difficulties you can text 999 by registering your phone in advance. Visit the Relay UK website.