Press release -
Wokingham stroke survivor backs Stroke Association’s FAST message
Stroke survivor Anthony Peters, 69, from Wokingham,is urging people across the South to be aware of the warning signs of stroke, and share the FAST message to help save more lives.
Anthony had a stroke in November last year. Anthony woke up in the early hours of the morning to get a drink of water, and when he was walking down the stairs, he suddenly lost feeling in the left-hand side of his body.
Anthony said: “In that moment, I thought I was having a stroke. I managed to crawl back upstairs and get into bed. Whilst lying in bed I did the FAST test to myself. I felt my face to feel for any weakness, and was trying to raise my arm and leg. At this point my wife woke up and asked me what was wrong. I told her that I was having a stroke and she dialled 999 immediately.”
At hospital Anthony received thrombolysis, a clot-busting treatment. He added: “Thankfully I’ve made a total recovery, which I believe is down to how quickly I was able to recognise my stroke and the care at hospital.”
The Stroke Association is raising awareness of the signs of stroke, calling on people to learn the symptoms, and call 999 as soon as they spot them.
The FAST test helps people recognise the most common symptoms of a stroke and the right action to take:
FACE: Can the person smile? Has their mouth or eye drooped?
ARMS: Can the person raise both arms?
SPEECH: Can the person speak clearly and understand what you say?
TIME to call 999
Suzy Imeson, Stroke Association Support Manager at the Stroke Associationsaid: “Stroke can happen to anyone at any age, at any time, and when it strikes, every second counts.
“We want more people like Anthony to learn the FAST test and share it with their friends and family. Knowing how to spot the warning signs of a stroke could save a life.”
To find out more about the FAST test, and the Stroke Association’s work to raise awareness of the warning signs of stroke, visit www.stroke.org.uk/FAST.
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