Act FAST campaign 2024

In early November NHS England launched the latest ‘Act FAST’ campaign, which aims to increase knowledge of the signs of a stroke and encourage people to dial 999 immediately in response to any sign – even if it doesn’t seem like much.

Every year in the UK, there are around 100,000 strokes, causing 38,000 stroke-related deaths.1

The first sign of a stroke might not seem serious. Like not being able to raise your arm, or struggling to smile, or slurring when you speak.

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.

A stroke is a medical emergency that requires immediate attention as every minute is vital.

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

Visit www.nhs.uk/ActFAST for more information.

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 www.emergencysms.co.uk