MEN are being encouraged to step up and put their health first, by learning the lifesaving signs of stroke and then informing their mates, colleagues and loved ones. The Stroke Foundation's 'Bloke Beside You' campaign encourages men to learn the F.A.S.T. acronym, which outlines the common signs of stroke: facial droop; inability to lift both arms; slurred speech; and the time factor (the need to call an ambulance immediately). The call to action comes after a Stroke Foundation national survey found that men's recognition levels of the F.A.S.T. signs lagged significantly behind women. "We want all Aussie men to learn the F.A.S.T. signs of stroke and pass on that knowledge to the bloke beside them, whether it’s their dad, son, uncle or workmate, because this small but mighty acronym can save lives," Stroke Foundation chief executive officer Dr Lisa Murphy said. Data shows that men are nearly 50 per cent more likely to experience a stroke than women, and that stroke kills more Aussie men than prostate cancer. Concerningly, almost half of the men in Australia would not know they were dealing with a stroke if they saw someone displaying the main signs. "Learning to better recognise the signs of a stroke leads to calling an ambulance sooner; thereby reaching hospital faster and receiving the specialist emergency treatment earlier," Dr Murphy said. For more information about the campaign, visit https://strokefoundation.org.au/how-you-can-help/get-involved/partners-sponsors/how/events-campaigns/bloke-beside-you
