Do YOU know what a stroke is? 1 in 4 adults don't know the signs of the deadly condition and wouldn't ring 999 if they saw someone having one

  • Fast treatment is crucial to someone surviving a stroke and recovering fully 
  • But it can only be given if someone realises it has hit - and calls 999 immediately
  • A survey found 24% of adults don't know the signs someone is having a stroke
  • Officials say if anyone is displaying any one of three signs they should call 999

By Ben Spencer Medical Correspondent For The Daily Mail

Published: 06:50 EST, 2 February 2017 | Updated: 06:50 EST, 2 February 2017

One in four people would not call 999 when seeing someone having a stroke because they do not recognise the signs, officials have warned.

Fast treatment is crucial to someone surviving a stroke and recovering fully.

But quick treatment can only be given if someone realises that a stroke has hit - and calls 999 immediately.

A survey has found 24 per cent of people do not know the signs that someone is having a stroke and are unsure when they should call emergency services

An estimated 150,000 people have a stroke each year in Britain.

Of these 40,000 die within a year, and of the survivors, two thirds are left with long-lasting disability, which can include paralysis, speech problems and personality changes.

New polling by Public Health England reveals 24 per cent of people do not know when they should call emergency services.

Officials say if anyone is displaying any one of three signs - a drooping face, failure to lift both arms, or slurred speech - they should call 999.

But many people think they need to wait for all of the signs, or two of them, to be displayed before they call an ambulance.

Public Health England says other people think they need permission from the stroke patient to dial 999, while other feel embarrassed at calling emergency services.

If anyone is displaying any one of three signs - a drooping face, failure to lift both arms, or slurred speech - they should call 999, officials say

Professor Kevin Fenton of Public Health England said: 'Stroke is one of the leading causes of death in the country, and the faster someone experiencing a stroke gets emergency treatment, the more chance that person has of surviving and avoiding serious disability.'

Dr Lasana Harris, experimental and social psychologist at University College London, said: 'We always look to make sense of a situation and even if someone appears to be having a stroke we may worry about causing offence or mutual embarrassment. 

THE ACT FAST CAMPAIGN

• Face – has their face fallen on one side? Can they smile?

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

• Speech – is their speech slurred?

• Time – to call 999 if you see any single one of these signs

'If no one else acts, then we ourselves may not see it as an emergency.

'However, the imagined consequences of action are minor compared to the consequences of inaction when someone is having a stroke, so act first and worry later.'

Juliet Bouverie, chief executive of the Stroke Association, said: 'We know people recognise the signs of stroke but they aren't taking the right action at the right time. A stroke is a brain attack and acting fast makes a huge difference.'

Public Health England today launches a new campaign to raise awareness of stroke symptoms, with a series of adverts to be broadcast nationally.

Radio DJ Mark Goodier, who had a stroke last November, and TV presenter Anna Richardson, whose father had a stroke, tell their personal stories alongside people who have survived stroke - some who have recovered well and others who have been left with life-changing disabilities. 

Comments (5)

Share what you think

The comments below have not been moderated.

The views expressed in the contents above are those of our users and do not necessarily reflect the views of MailOnline.

Add your comment

By posting your comment you agree to our house rules.

Who is this week's top commenter? Find out now