Strokes Are on the Rise: Why Teaching the BE FAST Method is More Important Than Ever
As first aid trainers, you are at the heart of building a more prepared, resilient community—empowering individuals with skills that save lives. With the NHS reporting a *28% rise in hospital admissions for strokes since 2004, it’s clear that stroke awareness must remain a critical focus in our work. This increasing prevalence underscores the life-saving potential of early recognition, quick action, and public education.
You play a vital role in this effort. Let’s explore why teaching the BE FAST method is crucial and how we, as a community, can make a powerful difference in the fight against strokes.
The Alarming Rise in Stroke Cases
Strokes don’t discriminate – they can strike anyone, at any age. While many associate strokes with older adults, growing numbers of cases are being seen among younger populations. Factors such as high blood pressure, undiagnosed atrial fibrillation, and lifestyle changes are contributing to this worrying trend.
What makes strokes particularly devastating is their speed. Every minute during a stroke, 1.9 million neurons are lost, which can lead to severe and irreversible damage. Timely recognition and action can dramatically change the outcome, preventing disability and even death.
Yet despite advances in treatment, one in three people fail to recognise the signs of a stroke, delaying the critical medical intervention that could save a life. This is where your training and the BE FAST method come in.
Teaching BE FAST: The Expanded Method for Stroke Recognition
At SkillBase First Aid, we’ve adopted the BE FAST acronym to help broaden awareness of the warning signs of strokes:
- Balance: Sudden loss of balance or coordination.
- Eyes: Sudden blurred or double vision, or complete loss of vision.
- Face: One side of the face appears droopy or uneven.
- Arms: Weakness or numbness in one arm, or inability to lift both arms evenly.
- Speech: Slurred or garbled speech, or difficulty understanding.
- Time: If any of these signs are present, call emergency services immediately.
By teaching BE FAST, you’re equipping learners to recognise both the traditional symptoms of strokes and often-overlooked signs like vision changes and balance issues. These additions can mean the difference between life and death, especially in cases where symptoms might initially seem less obvious.
For an in-depth guide to BE FAST and more resources, visit our dedicated stroke resource page.
Why Every Second Counts
Acting quickly when a stroke occurs is critical. The NHS emphasises that patients who receive medical attention within the first three hours are significantly more likely to benefit from advanced treatments like thrombolysis or thrombectomy, which can restore blood flow and minimise brain damage.
But this depends on public knowledge. When people are empowered to recognise the signs of a stroke, they can call for help faster, potentially saving lives. As first aid trainers, you are the bridge between awareness and action – educating individuals who may one day be the first to respond in an emergency.
How you can help!
This rise in stroke cases is a call to action for all of us. Whether or not strokes are part of every course you teach, raising awareness among your learners about the importance of BE FAST could save lives. Each session is an opportunity to leave a lasting impact, and the skills you pass on ripple out into workplaces, homes, and communities.
Think about the difference we can make together:
- Imagine a parent recognising the signs of a stroke in their child’s grandparent and acting swiftly.
- Picture an office worker responding to a colleague showing symptoms, calling 999 without hesitation.
- Envision a student taking what they’ve learned in your class to educate their own family about stroke warning signs.
This is the ripple effect of the work we do. And with stroke cases rising, this knowledge is more vital than ever.
Join Us in Spreading Awareness
We encourage you to visit and share our stroke resource page, which is packed with valuable information about recognising and responding to strokes. Use it to enhance your training sessions, share it with your networks, and empower as many people as possible to act BE FAST when it matters most.
The 28% rise in stroke admissions is a statistic we cannot ignore. But by continuing to train and inspire others, we can turn the tide – one class, one learner, and one life at a time.
Together, we create heroes on standby. Together, we can save lives.
Reference: NHS England website news 17/11/24
0 Comments