ACT F.A.S.T. is a new national government campaign aimed at helping people to recognise the signs of stroke, and act to save lives and reduce the damage caused, created by the excellent DLKW.
A stroke is a medical emergency that requires immediate medical attention. This new campaign is both striking and informative, a perfect combination when one’s objective is to educate and inform. Only a hospital test can confirm a stroke for sure, but it is important to know the signs and the Face Arm Speech Time test (F.A.S.T.) can help you recognise a stroke or TIA.
Face – Has their face fallen on one side? Can they smile?
Arms – Can they raise both arms and keep them there?
Speech – Is their speech slurred?
Time – Time to call 999 if you see any single one of these signs.
What is a stroke?
A TIA (Transient ischaemic attack) or ‘mini-stroke’ is similar to a stroke and has the same signs, but gets better within 24 hours. However, it is important not to wait and see if the signs get better as it could be a full stroke. And although TIA may not itself cause any serious illness it could be a warning sign of a more serious stroke and requires the same F.A.S.T. action to call 999 for an ambulance.
Watch the powerful TV
Visit the website
Get more information on the F.A.S.T. website
Thoughts
Personally this is a topic I can relate to personally, a close family member suffering from a stroke a few years past. I admire how the campaign focuses on the facts and impact a stroke can cause. This is partnered by a strong educational message that’s hard to forget – F.A.S.T. If we stay F.A.S.T. and act F.A.S.T. we can make a difference. It must be the season of strong educational campaigns, take this cyber anti-bullying campaign fronted by the boxer Joe Calzaghe. I think the golden ingredient all these campaigns have is the educational message mixed with a dose of reality, coated for maximum impact. So for all these designers starting out, focus on the message it’s much stronger an asset than the technical artistic execution. Experience and research the subject, it will help the final product to full fill it’s potential.