New Stroke Foundation data has revealed that hundreds of thousands of regional Western Australians are unaware of one of the key signs of stroke.
The Foundation's most recent annual F.A.S.T. National Awareness Survey found that only 11 per cent of people living in regional Western Australia know that inability to lift both arms is a sign of stroke, despite it being experienced by most stroke patients.
According to National Stroke Audit data, close to 60 per cent of Australian stroke patients present to hospital with arm deficit.
"This is a significant proportion of stroke patients who turn up at hospital with this particular sign of stroke so it's concerning that hundreds of thousands of people living in regional Western Australia don't even realise that it's a crucial indicator," Stroke Foundation Interim Executive Director Stroke Services and Research, Mr Kelvin Hill, said.
The F.A.S.T. acronym highlights the three most common signs of stroke (face, arms, speech). The T stands for time as a reminder that there is no time to waste, stroke is a medical emergency and always warrants a 000 call.
While awareness of the arms sign is low, regional Western Australia is improving its knowledge of the sign year on year. When compared to the previous survey, it saw an increase of one per cent.
"One per cent might not seem like a big increase but it means thousands more people now know this sign and would recognise if they or someone else is having a stroke. That increase the chance they will call an ambulance and receiving life-saving treatment."
When compared to other regional areas, regional Western Australia's awareness of arms is behind Tasmania (12%), New South Wales (15%) and Queensland (12%) but regional Western Australia well and truly outperforms its metropolitan neighbours, Perth (11% v 8%).
Stroke Foundation is urging regional Australians to arm themselves with life-saving knowledge by learning the F.A.S.T. acronym especially when regional Australians are 17 per cent more likely to have a stroke than people living in metropolitan areas.
"Knowing F.A.S.T. saves lives. We're asking all Australians to learn F.A.S.T. and not to forget that 'A' is inability to lift both arms and is an important indicator that someone is having a stroke." Mr Hill said.
The wheels are already in motion to improve stroke awareness in Western Australia with Stroke Foundation and the Western Australian Government working together to deliver a F.A.S.T Community Education program to educate the broad community about stroke risk, signs, and the actions to take when stroke strikes.
Through this F.A.S.T. Community Education Program, 6500 people have received information about the vital signs of stroke and prevention messages through StrokeSafe talks.
