New Australian data shows that approximately 1.7 million Melburnians would not recognise if they or a loved one were having a stroke because they're unaware of the common signs displayed when the potentially deadly attack strikes the brain.
"It's like being a lifeguard but not recognising when someone is drowning. Melburnians could help but they don't realise that what's happening in front of them is life threatening. That's something we urgently need to change," said Stroke Foundation Interim Chief Executive Officer, Dr Lisa Murphy.
Every year Stroke Foundation surveys thousands of Australians on their awareness of the common stroke signs and risk factors. The most recent survey found that 39 per cent of Melburnians could not name a single sign of stroke. While this statistic has improved on the year before, it is still too low - 39 per cent equates to approximately 1.7m Melbourne residents.
"It's important for Melburnians to recognise a stroke and realise the seriousness of what's happening. Stroke can kill and cause lifelong disabilities and the outcome relies on how quickly you or the person next to you recognises a stroke and calls an ambulance," Dr Murphy says.
The survey also found that only 41 per cent of Victorians recognised facial droop as a common sign of stroke (a three per cent increase on the previous year), while 51 per cent recognised speech difficulties (a two per cent increase on the year before). Most concerning, the data that showed only 11 per cent of Victorians realised that inability to lift both arms is also one of the three most common stroke indicators, a one per cent improvement since 2021's survey.
Stroke Foundation's aim is for every Melburnian to know the F.A.S.T. acronym which defines the three most common signs of stroke - Facial droop, inability to lift both Arms, and slurred Speech, as well as the reminder that Time is critical and to call an ambulance immediately.
We know that when people get to hospital in the critical first 4.5 hours after stroke, they have a greater chance of survival and making a good recovery which results in better outcomes for survivors of stroke, their families, the health system and the economy.
Stroke Foundation is calling on the Victorian Government to help by making stroke a spending priority in its next budget and investing $250,000 per annum for four years to deliver a F.A.S.T. community education program and multimedia campaign.
"We know our F.A.S.T awareness program works; we've seen it succeed in other states like regional New South Wales where awareness of stroke signs lifted by 20 per cent after its government partnered with us by investing in our work," Dr Murphy says.
"Victorians deserve the same opportunity to learn this lifesaving message."
Stroke Foundation currently partners with government in four states and territories to deliver intensive community education: ACT, Tasmania, Western Australian and New South Wales.
