Heart and Stroke Foundation launches FAST campaign
The Heart and Stroke Foundation launched a new campaign Wednesday, hoping to raise awareness so people will recognize the signs of a stroke.
The foundation says stroke is the number three killer of Canadians and not enough people know the signs.
The campaign urges people to think of the word "FAST" to help identify the signs:
- F stands for "Face," is it drooping?
- A stands for "Arms," can you raise both?
- S stands for "Speech," is it slurred or jumbled?
- T is for "Time," as in time to call 911 — if you see any of the above signs. Getting a stroke treated sooner, rather than later, is critical.
There are an estimated 62,000 strokes in Canada each year — that's one every nine minutes.
According to the Heart and Stroke Foundation, stroke rates among young people between the ages of 24 and 64 will double in the next 15 years.
