Ambulance Victoria paramedics are teaching Victorians, including those in Hume and Whittlesea, about how to recognise the signs of stroke this National Stroke Week.
Running from August 5–11, National Stroke Week is Stroke Foundation’s annual awareness week.
As part of National Stroke Week, paramedics and first responders will be running stroke awareness sessions across the state, teaching community members the F.A.S.T. test.
The F.A.S.T. acronym stands for: face (has their mouth drooped?), arms (can they lift both arms?), speech (is their speech slurred? Do they understand you?), time (time being a reminder to urgently call triple zero if you notice these symptoms).
A stroke occurs when blood supply to the brain is interrupted, and when it happens, action must be taken quickly to seek medical support.
A person suffers a stroke every 19 minutes in Australia, and it is one of Victoria’s biggest killers and a leading cause of disability.
Ambulance Victoria regional director Michael Georgiou said Victorians can make a life-changing difference by knowing the signs of stroke and calling triple zero immediately.
“This year’s theme is ‘keep looking at your mate’ and it’s as simple as that, know the signs and you could save someone’s life,” Mr Georgiou said.
Mr Georgiou said timing is critical in stroke and the sooner paramedics arrive and transport patients for clot-busting treatment, the better the person’s chance of surviving and maintaining a good quality of life.
