LOGIC June 2017 Vol 16 No 2 | Page 26

Green light for repeat of successful stroke awareness campaign The Minister of Health has approved a national awareness campaign for stroke based around the stroke FAST check. The campaign will begin on Sunday 4 th June and run for approximately three months. It follows the extremely successful national campaign last year. Once again the FAST mnemonic will be promoted. (Face drooping, Arm weakness, Speech slurred, Time to call 111). Promotion will be across a number of channels, including television, radio and online. Although the primary audience is all New Zealanders, there is a special focus on Māori, Pacific Island and Indo-Asian communities. Effective thrombolysis treatment depends on getting the stroke patient to hospital within a four-hour window. The message is one of urgent action. Any stroke is a medical emergency and people should call 111 rather than their June 2017 L.O.G.I.C doctor, family and friends, or waiting for it to pass. Calling 111 is the best means of achieving a positive outcome. If a stroke is identified by the caller to 111, then an ambulance or helicopter can be dispatched to the location to uplift the stroke patient, and give them the best chance of receiving thrombolysis in hospital. We know that FAST works. Last year there was considerable anecdotal evidence that the advertising campaign was reaching people, but also that it was saving lives and improving outcomes. Several people came forward to say they remembered the FAST message when someone near them had a stroke. A Taranaki resident credited know the FAST message with saving her husband’s life when he had a stroke in the middle of the night. She told the Stroke Foundation that had she not known to call 111, her husband would not have got to hospital in time for urgent treatment. In another case study, Staff at a supermarket who had seen the FAST advertisement recognised that a customer was having a stroke. Although she wanted to leave, they kept her in the store and dialled 111 – action which resulted in a very positive outcome. The National campaign follows successful and widespread use of the FAST message overseas. The Ministry of Health, Stroke Foundation of New Zealand and Health Promotion Agency are partnering to deliver the campaign and appreciate your support with the campaign and these important messages. For further information on the campaign or to register your interest to support please contact Julia Rout on [email protected]. 24