Kaye Adams Joins Stroke Survivors in Call for a Campaign To Help People Act Fast at First Signs of a Stroke 28 October 2022 On World Stroke Day (Saturday 29 October), campaigners are calling for the Scottish Government to reintroduce a nationwide FAST campaign to raise awareness of the most common signs of stroke Broadcaster Kaye Adams, whose mum died following a series of strokes in 2018, has joined Chest, Heart and Stroke Scotland’s (CHSS) call for a public awareness campaign to reduce the number of people dying from stroke in Scotland. The Scottish television presenter says she regrets not taking her mum Cathie to hospital when she saw the signs of a Transient Ischaemic Attack (commonly known as a mini-stroke) two weeks before she suffered a major stroke in 2017. Kaye is backing CHSS’s call for a renewal of the FAST campaign, which raises awareness of the signs of a stroke and the need to take urgent action. “It’s so important that people recognise the signs of stroke and understanding they need to act fast,” says Kaye. “I’ll always regret not taking my mum straight to hospital when I saw a strange flicker across her face. “She insisted she just needed a good night’s sleep but within a fortnight she had her first major stroke. “Let’s make sure we don’t live with ‘if only’s’”. Kaye’s mum received hospital treatment in Forth Valley before returning home to recover. She continued to need care and support and hadn’t regained the ability to walk when in July 2018 she had a second stroke. She died a few weeks later. FAST is a simple acronym to remind people of the key signs of stroke: FACE – Can the person smile, does one side of their face droop? ARM – Can they lift both arms? Is one weak? SPEECH – Is their speech slurred or muddled? TIME – If ANY ONE of these symptoms are present, call 999 Kaye is joining stroke survivors such as Chris Forsyth, 57, from Livingston, who suffered a stroke in January 2022. Chris believes it was his wife Sharron’s quick response that meant he got the urgent medical attention he needed. Sharron, who works for the NHS, took one look at Chris and immediately took action. Within 90 minutes he was in the stroke unit at St John’s Hospital in Livingston getting emergency treatment. Recalling his recovery, Chris says: “When I saw some of the patients in the stroke ward, I realised how lucky I’d been. I’m only now starting to accept what happened to me, and I class it as a brain injury.” CHSS is calling for the Scottish Government to reintroduce a centrally coordinated FAST campaign, which hasn’t run since before the pandemic, to increase recognition of stroke across the country. By getting help quickly, it not only increases people’s chance of survival but can help reduce disability. Allan Cowie, Interim Chief Executive at Chest Heart and Stroke Scotland, said: “By the end of today, 25 people across Scotland will have had a stroke. It is vital that people are aware of the signs and symptoms of stroke and phone 999 immediately if someone needs urgent medical attention. “By getting help quickly, it not only increases people’s chance of survival but can help reduce disability. “FAST is a simple acronym to help people recognise the most common signs and symptoms of stroke. We’re calling for the Scottish Government to reintroduce a national FAST campaign to increase recognition of stroke across the country, assist with early detection and help improve people’s recovery following a stroke.” Stroke is one of Scotland’s biggest killers and a leading cause of severe disability – two thirds of stroke survivors leave hospital with a disability, and one third give up work as a result of their stroke. In 2021, 3828 people died as a result of stroke. The sooner a person receives treatment for a stroke, the better the outcome is likely to be.