Ambulances spread the word FAST
Ambulances will be turning into mobile billboards carrying life-saving messages to help the public spot the signs of a stroke.
Six ambulances with the South East Coast Ambulance Service NHS Trust have been decorated in eye-catching graphics which carry the Department
of Health and Stroke Association's FAST campaign.
The ambulances will operate in regional hot-spots where strokes are most prevalent and where the risk of a stroke is known to be high.
The vehicles were unveiled in Worthing to coincide with National Stroke Awareness Day.
SECAmb is the first ambulance trust in the country to use its vehicles to carry health messages.
The ambulance trust has also set up a scheme which enables ambulance crews to fast-track patients to specialist stroke units for treatment to deal with blood clots, which cause around 80 per cent of strokes.
As part of its campaign, SECAmb is also sending out 30 trained stroke 'champions' who will educate the public about avoiding, recognising and dealing with a stroke.
SECAmb's chief executive Paul Sutton said: "Strokes devastate the lives of thousands of people across the south east every year.
"Our work to improve outcomes for stroke patients is innovative and effective and underlines our commitment to the highest level of patient care."
Director of the NHS stroke improvement programme Ian Golton said: "SECAmb's work is an example of how co-operation, knowing your local area and using imagination can prevent strokes and save lives. It's an example that will provide valuable lessons for the rest of the country."
FAST helps identify and treat strokes with simple-to-understand message:
Facial weakness – can the person smile? Has their mouth or eye drooped?
Arm weakness – can the person raise both arms?
Speech problems – can the person speak clearly and understand what
you say?
Time to call 999.
Fact file
* A stroke is a loss of brain function because of a clot or a bleed in the brain.
* The devastating condition is the third-leading cause of death and the single largest cause of disability in England. It causes around 67,000 deaths in the UK per year.
* Around 80 per cent of strokes are caused by a blood clot but treatment (called thrombolysis) has to be given within three hours of the onset of symptoms for the best possible outcome for the patient.
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Weather for Midhurst
Wednesday 23 May 2012
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