Monday the 2nd of August 2021 is the start of National Stroke Week. As one of Australia’s biggest killers, St John Ambulance NSW is using this year’s Stroke Week as an opportunity to raise awareness around strokes and share the ways in which bystanders can recognise and assist in the event of a stroke.
As the leading case of disability in Australia and the third most common cause of death, strokes affect 25% of working age Australians.
These are the latest statistics from the Stroke Foundation:
There were 27,428 Australians who experienced stroke for the first time in their lives in 2020, which equates to one stroke every 19 minutes.
One in four people globally will have a stroke in their lifetime.
More than 445,087 Australians are living with the effects of stroke.
Stroke is one of Australia’s biggest killers. It kills more women than breast cancer and more men than prostate cancer.
When a stroke strikes, it attacks up to 1.9 million brain cells per minute.
Without action by 2050 it is predicted that the number of first-ever strokes experienced by Australians annually will increase to 50,600, or one stroke every 10 minutes
First aid fact sheet
RECOGNISE THE SIGNS OF A STROKE AND ACT FAST :
If you see any of these symptoms, act F.A.S.T.!
Has the person’s FACE drooped?
Can they lift both ARMS?
Is the person’s SPEECH slurred? Do they understand you? T – Call triple zero (000). TIME is critical.
© Stroke Foundation https://strokefoundation.org.au/
Signs and symptoms
• facial weakness
• arm weakness
• weakness or paralysis, especially on one side of the body
• difficulty speaking or
understanding
• feeling of numbness in face, arm or leg
• disturbed vision
• loss of balance
• faintness, dizziness
• confusion
• loss of consciousness
What to do
1 Follow DRSABCD.
2 Call triple zero (000) for an ambulance. 3 Reassure the patient. The patient may not be able to clearly communicate, which may cause them extreme anxiety.
4 Help the patient to sit or lie down in a comfortable position. Support the patient’s head and shoulders on pillows.
5 Loosen any tight clothing.
6 Keep the patient warm.
7 Wipe away any secretions from the patient’s mouth. Stay with the patient until the ambulance arrives.
In a medical emergency call Triple Zero (000)
DRSABCD Danger ▶Response ▶Send for help ▶Airway ▶Breathing ▶CPR ▶Defibrillation
https://strokefoundation.org.au/