National Stroke Week 2021

Aug 2, 20212 min read

This year, National Stroke Week runs from the 2nd of August until the 8th of August.

The Stroke Foundation hold National Stroke week every year to engage the community and to build awareness, prevent, treat and beat stroke.

They are the voice of stroke in Australia and work to do the following:

Raise awareness of the risk factors, signs of stroke and promote healthy lifestyles.
Improve treatment for stroke to save lives and reduce disability.
Improve life after stroke for survivors.
Encourage and facilitate stroke research.
Advocate for initiatives to prevent, treat and beat stroke.
Raise funds from the community, corporate sector and government to continue our mission.

During National Stroke Week 2021, the Stroke Foundation are asking the community to be "United By Stroke" by learning the F.A.S.T (Face, Arms, Speech, Time) signs of Stroke.

FACE:

Check their face, has their mouth drooped?

ARMS:

Can they lift both of their arms?

SPEECH:

Is their speech slurred? Can they understand you?

TIME:

Time is critical. If you see any of these signs call triple zero (000) immediately.

WHAT TO DO WHILE YOU WAIT FOR AN AMBULANCE

OTHER SIGNS OF STROKE

Facial weakness, arm weakness and difficulty with speech are the most common symptoms or signs of stroke, but they are not the only signs. The following signs of stroke may occur alone or in combination:

Weakness or numbness or paralysis of the face, arm or leg on either or both sides of the body
Difficulty speaking or understanding
Dizziness, loss of balance or an unexplained fall
Loss of vision, sudden blurring or decreased vision in one or both eyes
Headache, usually severe and abrupt onset or unexplained change in the pattern of headaches
Difficulty swallowing