Stroke Awareness Month

The consequences of stroke happen every single day and affect hundreds of thousands of people in the UK every year.

The Stroke Association is calling on everyone to sign up to Make May Purple in 2017 and raise vital funds to show support for people who have been affected by stroke.

East Riding of Yorkshire Council’s public health team and Humber NHS Foundation Trust are supporting Make May Purple, which runs annually through the whole of May.

As part of the awareness month, East Riding Council and Humber NHS Foundation Trust are teaming together to help promote the importance of acting quickly when any of these signs are recognised in someone or yourself.

The most common signs of stroke are easily identified by using the FAST test (Face, Arms, Speech, Time):

Face – has their face fallen on one side?

Arms – can they raise both arms and keep them there?

Speech – is their speech slurred?

Time to call 999.

Calling 999 as quickly as possible can not only save lives but can potentially limit long-term effects after the stroke has occurred.

John Skidmore, director of corporate strategy and commissioning, said: “Acting quickly in this situation is imperative and the faster you can help someone showing signs of stroke, the better chance they have of survival or avoiding long-term disabilities.”

Michele Moran, CEO at Humber NHS Foundation Trust, said: “Michele Moran, Chief Executive of Humber NHS Foundation Trust, said: “If you are with a loved one or friend and suspect they may be having a stroke, dial 999 immediately and ask for an ambulance. By acting quickly you could save their life.”

Julie MacLeod, Regional Director at the Stroke Association, said: “This year we’re calling on the local community to get involved in Make May Purple.

“Whether you choose to hold a bake sale, take part in an event or get sponsored to dye your hair, there are so many easy ways to show your support.

“Across the UK, more than a million people are rebuilding their lives after stroke. By supporting Make May Purple you can help us to make sure stroke gets the attention it deserves and to raise vital funds for innovative research into stroke care and treatment.”

A stroke is a ‘brain attack’, caused by a disturbance in the blood supply to the brain. It’s a medical emergency that requires immediate attention. So recognising the signs of stroke and calling 999 for an ambulance is crucial.

There are over 100,000 strokes a year in the UK, causing over 40,000 deaths with two thirds of stroke survivors leaving hospital with a disability.

The sooner somebody who is having a stroke gets urgent medical attention, the better their chances of a good recovery.

One of the main objectives of the campaign is to get people who witness somebody showing stroke symptoms to overcome any initial reluctance to call and dial 999.

Search ‘Act FAST’ on the search engine or visit www.stroke.org.uk for more information.