Even if it doesn’t seem like much, at the first sign of a stroke, call 999

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.

Stroke symptoms might be less dramatic, painful or obvious than you might expect. Like not being able to raise your arm, struggling to smile, or slurred speech.

Whether it is a friend, loved one or even a passer-by, any sign of a stroke is always an emergency, so call 999 immediately if you or someone else experiences a single symptom.

The first signs of a stroke include:

• Face weakness – it might be hard to smile, and one side of your face may droop (fall)
• Arm weakness – you may not be able to fully lift both arms and keep them there because of weakness or numbness in one arm
• Speech problems – you may slur your words or sound confused
  Other symptoms that could be the first sign you or someone else is having a stroke include:
• Sudden weakness or numbness on one side of your body (including in your leg)
• Sudden loss of vision or blurred vision in one or both eyes
• Sudden difficulty speaking or thinking of words
• Sudden memory loss or confusion
• Sudden severe headache
• Sudden dizziness, unsteadiness or a sudden fall, especially with any of the other signs

Acting FAST on any sign of a stroke gives patients faster access to specialist treatment that could save their life. 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.