This Monday, August 2, marks the start of National Stroke Week, an initiative aimed at raising awareness around stroke detection.
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More than 56,000 strokes will be experienced by Australians this year - that is one stroke every nine minutes.
Strokes are the leading cause of disability in Australia and the third most common cause of death, affecting 25 per cent of working age Australians.
Unfortunately, despite these alarming statistics, many Australians don't know the warning signs or how to help if they encounter someone suffering from a stroke.
This National Stoke Week, St John Ambulance NSW want to change this.
A stroke occurs when there is a lack of oxygenated blood getting to the brain, which may be caused by a bleed or a clot in one of the arteries.
This can cause a variety of symptoms, and it's important to recognise these signs fast, so you can act swiftly to minimise the damage caused.
St John Ambulance NSW, CEO, Sarah Lance says that the longer a stroke remains untreated, the greater the chance of stroke-related brain damage.
"Strokes can often be difficult to detect, so knowing how to recognise when a stroke is happening is the first step. That recognition can mean the difference between life and death. This is where the FAST test comes in," she says.
So, how do we identify the signs of a stroke? It's as simple as remembering the acronym F.A.S.T.
Using the F.A.S.T test involves asking these simple questions:
FACE: Check their face. Has their mouth dropped?
ARMS: Can they lift both arms?
SPEECH: Is their speech slurred? Do they understand you?
TIME: Time is critical. If you see any of these signs, call 000 straight away.
It's also important to utilise basic first aid principals such as supporting their head and shoulders, loosening tight clothing, ensuring airways are clear and placing the patient in the recovery position if they lose consciousness.
