Stroke awareness in British Columbia will be getting a boost with $500,000 in government funding to the Heart and Stroke Foundation’s FAST Signs of Stroke campaign, Health Minister Terry Lake announced today.

“Stroke can happen at any age, and when it does, seconds count. Knowing the signs of stroke is integral to getting yourself or a loved one life-saving treatment as soon as possible,” said Lake. “This campaign will help B.C. continue to have one of the lowest stroke-mortality rates in Canada by educating British Columbians on how to recognize and get help for someone having a stroke.”

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The FAST Signs of Stroke campaign urges British Columbians to call 9-1-1 immediately if they recognize the three main signs that signal whether a person is having a stroke. FAST stands for:

• F - Face, is it drooping?
• A - Arms, can you raise both?
• S - Speech, is it slurred or jumbled?
• T - Time to call 9-1-1 right away.

“Our objective is to ensure that all Canadians, no matter where they live or how old they are, know and remember the signs of stroke with the FAST approach,” said Adrienne Bakker, CEO, BC & Yukon Branch of the Heart and Stroke Foundation. “Over the last decade, stroke care in Canada has improved and death rates from stroke are on the decline, but incidence of stroke has increased during this time as well, not only for those in their 50s and 60s, but for younger people too. That’s why it’s more important than ever for people of all ages to know what a stroke looks like and how to get help.”

Every nine minutes, someone in Canada has a stroke. In B.C. alone, more than 6,500 patients are admitted to hospital each year for stroke and transient ischemic attack, also known as mini-stroke. Brain cells die at a rate of two million per minute after stroke, which is caused by an interruption of blood flow, and therefore oxygen, to the brain. The sooner a person gets treatment, the greater the likelihood of a good outcome.

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“I suffered a stroke while staying with my daughter in London. Because she instantly recognized the signs of stroke due to a well-publicized campaign in the UK using the acronym FAST, I am alive and well today,” said Robert Clark, stroke survivor. “Things might well have been a lot worse for me but for her knowledge of FAST. I wrote the foundation at the time to recommend FAST be used in B.C., and it is gratifying to see it being introduced today to help save lives.”

The Heart and Stroke Foundation estimates up to 80% of premature heart disease and stroke can be prevented. The Healthy Families BC strategy aims to help British Columbians make healthy choices that can prevent chronic illness leading to stroke.

The Heart and Stroke Foundation’s mission is to prevent disease, save lives and promote recovery. A volunteer-based health charity, its members strive to tangibly improve the health of every Canadian family every day.

Learn more:

For more information or to learn more about recognizing the signs of stroke, visit: www.heartandstroke.bc.ca

Media Contacts:

Laura Heinze
Media Relations Manager
Ministry of Health
250 952-1887 (media line)

Erika Callowhill
Director, Communications and Regional Marketing West
Heart and Stroke Foundation, B.C. and Yukon
604 719-8402