Stroke Foundation is marking a major milestone with a vow to continue fighting to reduce the number of preventable strokes and for the best treatment and care for Victorians living with the impacts of stroke.
This month marks Stroke Foundation's 25-year anniversary. The not-for-profit is the only national organisation focused on stroke prevention, treatment, and recovery for all Australians. This is critical in Victoria, where 7,000 people experienced a stroke for the first-time last year, and where 113,000 people are already living with the impact of stroke.
Stroke Foundation's State Manager for Victoria, Eamonn O'Toole, says the organisation provides access to a range of services for people impacted by stroke.
"We also have a very engaged and active stroke community which in turn supports and educates the rest of the community. It starts with knowing the F.A.S.T message as that knowledge genuinely saves lives."
"In a state as culturally diverse as Victoria we want to provide every opportunity for all Australians to learn that message, so we also provide the information in Greek, Italian, Mandarin, Vietnamese, Arabic, Cantonese, Hindi and Korean on our website."
Thinking F.A.S.T involves asking these simple questions:
Face Check their face. Has their mouth drooped?
Arms Can they lift both arms?
Speech Is their speech slurred? Do they understand you?
Time is critical. If you see any of these signs call triple zero (000) straight away
Mr O'Toole says another highlight of Stroke Foundation's first 25 years has been the establishment of the free national phone service StrokeLine. This is not an emergency service but a support line which offers practical and confidential advice.
"Our next 25 years at Stroke Foundation will be focused on championing new avenues in prevention, treatment, and recovery to make the future brighter and help people with stroke live well."
