‘Act FAST’

NHS England has launched the latest ‘Act FAST’ campaign 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. The new campaign lets the public know that: ‘Face or Arm or Speech, at the first sign, it’s Time to call 999’.

Please use the Act FAST campaign resources to increase patient awareness of the signs of a stroke and the importance of acting immediately in response to a single symptom.

A stroke happens every 5 minutes in the UK. There are around 38,000 stroke-related deaths every year and it’s a leading cause of disability.  The campaign encourages people to Act FAST on any sign of a stroke as every minute is vital, to give patients quicker access to specialist treatment that could save their life and reduce the long-term effects of a stroke such as a disability. 

The campaign explains that the first sign of a stroke might not seem serious. Like struggling to smile, not being able to raise your arm or slurring when you speak.  Stroke symptoms can be less dramatic, painful or obvious than might be expected.  But even if doesn’t seem like much, at the first sign of a stroke call 999.

There is a range of resources to share across your communications channels.

The toolkit gives you information and resources to encourage people to Act FAST on signs of a stroke.  
Download resources here:

• Toolkit
• Social media assets and post copy
• Posters
• PR videos