Act FAST if you notice signs of a stroke

THE local community in Tallaght and the wider South Dublin area are being encouraged to Act F.A.S.T. if they notice signs of a stroke in a person, as every minute counts.

World Stroke Day is set to be observed on Thursday, October 29, and locals have been urged to learn the telltale signs of a stroke – Face, Arm, Speech, Time – so that someone in need can receive assistance as fast as possible.

Many may remember the advert on television that encouraged people to learn this acronym to help others, and now on October 29, Tallaght University Hospital is encouraging people to do so as well.

Senior Physiotherapist in Stroke Early Supported Discharge at TUH, Suzanne Ryan, noted the importance of “acting fast.”

Suzanne said: “Acting fast is so important to be able to treat the stroke, and then we can get really much better outcomes then for patients if they get in and get treated quickly.”

The hospital will have a public and staff campaign on the campus on World Stroke Day to raise awareness about the issue, with a stall in the atrium.

Suzanne pointed to the ageing population in the local area and stated that a larger number of stroke patients is expected in the hospital as a result of this.

However, she also noted the danger of a stroke to the younger population and stated that some presenting to hospital are as young as 30.

“We have many patients in their 30s, 40s and 50s, and many people think it’s a disease for older people, but it absolutely isn’t, and we’re having younger strokes coming in now.”

If warning signs of a stoke are learnt and able to be a recognised in a loved one, then faster treatment is possible.

Around one in four adults will suffer a stroke in their lifetime, meaning many will likely know someone affected by this serious medical emergency.

Suzanne stated that “much better outcomes” for stroke patients can be delivered if someone is presented to hospital in a swift manner, “usually around four hours.”

“If they recognize any of these warning signs, it’s to just get in as fast as possible to hospital and the reason is that there’s really good treatment now around breaking down the clot.

“Often from Tallaght, people get sent from Beaumont to remove the clot and so there’s really good treatment, but it has to be done within a time window – they say usually around four hours.

“Acting F.A.S.T. is so important to be able to treat the stroke, and then we can really get much better outcomes then for patients, if they get in and get treated quickly.