B.C. Government Boosts Heart & Stroke Funding by $500,000

Health Minister Terry Lake announced a $500,000 boost in government funding to the Hearth and Stroke Foundation’s FAST Signs of Stroke campaign today.

“Stroke can happen at any age, and when it does, seconds count. Knowing the signs of stroke is integral to getting yourself or a loved one life-saving treatment as soon as possible,” said Lake. “This campaign will help B.C. continue to have one of the lowest stroke-mortality rates in Canada by educating British Columbians on how to recognize and get help for someone having a stroke.”

Photo Credit: Twitter

Every nine minutes, someone in Canada has a stroke. In B.C. alone, more than 6,500 patients are admitted to hospitals in B.C. each year for stroke and transient ischemic attack, or mini-stroke. Brain cells die at a rate of two million per minute after stroke, which is caused by an interruption of blood flow, and therefore oxygen, to the brain. The sooner a person gets treatment, the greater the likelihood of a good outcome.

The FAST Signs of Stroke campaign urges British Columbians to call 9-1-1 immediately if they recognize the three main signs that signal whether a person is having a stroke. FAST stands for:

F- Face: is it drooping?

A- Arms: can you raise both?

S- Speech: is it slurred or jumbled?

T- Time: to call 9-1-1 right away.

Know the signs of #stroke #ActFast #Heart&Stroke @TerryLakeMLA @John_Yap pic.twitter.com/kPYNO7pQoJ

— Jane Thornthwaite (@jthornthwaite) May 26, 2015

“Our objective is to ensure that all Canadians, no matter where they live or how old they are, know and remember the signs of stroke with the FAST approach,” said Adrienne Bakker, CEO of the BC & Yukon Branch of the Heart and Stroke Foundation.

The Heart and Stroke Foundation estimates up to 80% of premature heart disease and stroke can be prevented. The Healthy Families BC strategy aims to help British Columbians make healthy choices that can prevent chronic illness leading to stroke.

For more information or to learn more about recognizing the signs of stroke, visit:www.heartandstroke.bc.ca