Stroke Foundation is urging Shoalhaven residents to learn and share the F.A.S.T. (Face, Arms, Speech, Time) signs of stroke, as part of a local health promotion and awareness campaign delivered with the support of NSW Government.
The campaign aims to help people in the Shoalhaven region recognise when a stroke happens and prompt immediate action by calling triple zero (000) - actions that can improve survival and recovery outcomes.
A stroke occurs when blood flow to parts of the brain is blocked or when a blood vessel in the brain bursts. Without adequate blood flow, brain cells begin to die within minutes, which can cause lasting damage, disability or even death.
Australians experience around 46,000 strokes every year (one every 11 minutes), and 1 in 3 strokes in Australia impact residents of New South Wales. There are also over 440,000 survivors of stroke living around the country, including over 5,000 in the Shoalhaven region.
For Shoalhaven local Kath Albertiri, that knowledge made all the difference when her husband Mario, 76, recently experienced a stroke in September.
Pictured: Kath and Mario Albertiri.
"We had just returned from a trip to Bali and were out for lunch when Mario started feeling unwell later that day. When I got home, he was pale, sweating and his speech was slurred," Kath said.
"I remembered the FAST signs and knew slurred speech was a red flag. Even though he didn't have facial droop or weakness in his arms, I knew something wasn't right and called an ambulance straight away. It turned out to be a brainstem stroke."
Mario spent two days in the resuscitation unit at Shoalhaven Hospital before moving to the stroke ward and then to rehabilitation. He continues to make progress each day and is known by his nurses as an inspiration to others.
"I've had a lot of fights in my life, but this is the fight of my life," Mario said.
Stroke Foundation CEO Dr Lisa Murphy said stories like Mario's show just how vital community awareness and quick action can be.
"Every minute counts when it comes to stroke. Recognising the signs and calling triple zero immediately can mean the difference between life, death or long-term disability," Dr Murphy said.
"We're proud to support the Shoalhaven community through this FAST campaign, helping locals learn what to look for and what to do. Kath's quick thinking made all the difference for Mario, and we want more families to have that same chance."
Mario is currently recovering in rehab.
The "Be StrokeSafe in Shoalhaven" campaign, delivered in partnership with local community organisations and funded by a grant from NSW Government Ministry of Health, is designed to bring life-saving stroke awareness messages to regional communities.
