National Stroke Week is focusing on the F.A.S.T acronym

National Stroke Week is an initiative which aims to raise awareness around the signs of strokes.

According to St John Ambulance, 27,428 Australians experienced a stroke for the first time in 2020, which is one every 19 minutes.

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Strokes are also the leading cause of disability in Australia and the third most common cause of death.

Strokes occur when the lack of oxygenated blood reaches the brain which is caused by a bleed or clot in an artery.

The acronym F.A.S.T has been pushed as a reminder this week especially.

F.A.S.T simplifies how to check for signs of a stroke.

Checking the face, observing if they can lift both arms, looking for speech problems and time if any of these symptoms are occurring to contact 000 immediately.

St John Ambulance NSW chief executive officer Sarah Lance explained the importance of the acronym.

'Strokes can often be difficult to detect, so knowing how to recognise when a stroke is happening is the first step," she said.

"That recognition can mean the difference between life and death.

"This is where the FAST test comes in".

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