Act F.A.S.T.

How many of us have seen and remember the F.A.S.T. campaign on TV on spotting the symptoms of a stroke? 

Facial weakness - Can they smile?
Arm and leg weakness - Have they stumbled or fallen? Can they lift both arms?
Speech problems - Do they sound slurred?
Time to call 999 - The sooner they reach hospital & vital treatment the better chance of recovery.

I do, although I haven't seen them for a while. A week ago on Sunday my father had a stroke. As he used to be a GP he recognised the symptoms although he struggled to call out to my mother. Luckily when she went into the room she saw that he was having difficulties, recognised the symptoms and called for an ambulance. As he reached hospital extremely quickly he was able to receive vital treatment and is now making amazing progress. 

He is probably the most amazing man I know. Last year at 85 he stopped playing tennis once a week as he needed a hip replacement, and this stroke has put the kibosh on his playing 9 holes of golf weekly (well, for the time being at any rate, although at the rate he's recovering who knows for how long!). The fact that  he is fit and active and eats healthily has undoubtedly been in his favour. 

Please do share this simple information with others in case it comes in handy one day to help someone else receive treatment F.A.S.T.!

A huge thank you to the paramedics, staff at Worthing A&E and on Botolph's ward as well as the occupational therapists who are now helping his recovery at home, and the 999 operator who stayed on the line talking to my mother until the ambulance arrived!