This month Gary Hepburn from specialist First Aid, Health & Safety and Fire Safety Training company Sirius Business Service Ltd writes about how to recognize and respond to Stroke's

Stroke - ACT F.A.S.T.

Many of you will have seen the ACT F.A.S.T. commercials on TV over recent weeks, heard them on radio or seen them in the newspaper. ACT F.A.S.T. is a new national government campaign aimed at helping people to recognise the signs of stroke, and act to save lives and reduce the damage caused.

A Stroke or CVA (Cerebral Vascular Accident) is a condition in which part of the brain is affected by an interruption to the normal blood supply. Strokes are the leading cause of disability in the UK and the third most common cause of death after cancer and coronary heart disease. There are two main types of stroke, ischaemic and haemorrhagic which require different types of treatment.
A TIA (Transient ischaemic attack) or 'mini-stroke' is similar to a stroke and has the same signs, but gets better within 24 hours. However, it is important not to wait and see if the signs get better as it could be a full stroke. And although TIA may not itself cause any serious illness it could be a warning sign of a more serious stroke and requires the same F.A.S.T. action to call 999 for an ambulance.

So how do I know if someone is having a Stroke or TIA, well the signs and symptoms may include:
• Moderate to severe headache
• Tingling, weakness or numbness down one side of the body
• Loss of muscle tone of the face muscles, possibly with dribbling on one side
• Nausea
• Unequal pupils; blurred or double vision
• Loss of bladder or bowel control
• Loss of speech or uttering of meaningless sounds
• Loss of balance or coordination
• Deteriorating conscious state or unconsciousness

Through the campaign the government is promoting an easy to remember approach to dealing with stroke under the F.A.S.T. acronym.
F is for - Has their face fallen on one side? Can they smile?
A is for - Can they raise both arms and keep them there?
S is for - Is their speech slurred?
T is for - Time to call 999 if you see any single one of these signs.

A stroke is a medical emergency that requires immediate medical attention. So recognising the signs and calling 999 for an ambulance is crucial. Quick diagnosis of stroke is important to understanding the cause, the damage done and what immediate medical treatment is needed. The sooner somebody who has had a stroke gets the right medical attention the better their chances of a good recovery. So minutes really do matter.

To view the TV advert and see more details on ACT F.A.S.T. click here

Whilst waiting for the ambulance, you can help further by:
• Reassuring the casualty if they are conscious
• Making the conscious casualty, comfortable, this may be lying down, or half-sitting. Whichever keep the head raised and supported to reduce any additional pressure on the brain
• Assess how the patient is affected and note any changes, continue to check the patient every few minutes to check their level of consciousness
• If unconscious and breathing normally, or not fully alert place the casualty in the recovery position, with the affected side upwards
• Check the airway and breathing every few minutes on the unconscious casualty and be prepared to begin CPR if required.

WHEN STROKE STRIKES ACT F.A.S.T - Call 999

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If you have not had some instruction in Stroke, CPR or basic first aid, consider getting some now before you need to use. With just some basic training you could save a life!!

For more information on courses available e-mail gary@sirius-business-services.co.uk