Every approximately 6.5 minutes someone in Poland suffers a stroke. Stroke is a disease that can affect anyone - at any age, in any place, at any time. Statistics show that stroke is the 3rd cause of death and the leading cause of permanent disability in adults. Each year, stroke kills around 30,000 Poles. As part of the nationwide social campaign STOP STrokes, on the occasion of World Stroke Day, for the first time Poles will receive a "Stroke Alert" - a message with information on what the basic symptoms of a stroke are and how to react if they are noticed. Jacek Rozenek, an actor who suffered a stroke in May this year, was involved in the campaign.
STROKE - TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE!
- A stroke usually occurs unexpectedly, and you need to act as you would, for example, in a fire or extreme weather emergency - immediately! What counts is a quick reaction. If the patient arrives at the stroke unit in time, he or she has the chance to avoid the serious consequences of the disease. - explains Włodzimierz Krzysztof Dłużyński, MD, Chairman of the Board of the Brain Stroke Foundation. - With the 'STROKE ALERT' campaign, we want to draw the public's attention to the fact that it is useful to know the most common stroke symptoms and what to do when you notice them - i.e. call the emergency services.
- "SHARING ALERT" is an action in which we join forces. We invite everyone to share a message that could save someone's life. It is hoped that through 'STROKE ALERT' many people will learn and remember the acronym for the word stroke, which includes the basic symptoms of stroke :
U - mouth contorted,
D - palm down,
A - articulation hindered,
R - blurred vision)
and will quickly call 999 or 112 if they are spotted. Here it is worth pointing out that not all symptoms need to occur simultaneously - adds Sebastian Szyper, President of the Stroke Association - It's the support that counts!
JACEK ROZENEK WARNS OF STROKE
- Stroke does not hurt. People who have had a stroke often underestimate the first symptoms of the disease. On the day I suffered a stroke, at one point I felt that I had difficulty speaking. Unfortunately, I ignored it. I was convinced it was temporary fatigue - I was running a training series at the time. I was extremely lucky that someone, a complete stranger, noticed that something bad might be happening to me and quickly called an ambulance. After all, he might have thought I had fallen asleep in a parked car. Now, after a difficult rehabilitation, I was able to return to work. However, I know that not everyone is so lucky. I am convinced that many people could be saved if more people knew the basic symptoms of stroke and knew that if they see even one of them in someone, they need to call the emergency services as soon as possible. Stroke affects people of all ages - it is not true that it is only the elderly. At the rehabilitation centre I met a lot of young people after a stroke. I decided to join the 'STROKE ALERT' campaign and appear in a short spot which I hope will draw the attention of Poles and encourage them to learn more about what this dangerous disease is." - says Jacek Rozenek, actor.
SHOCK ALERT. DO YOU KNOW WHAT TO DO?
In a short spot featuring Jacek Rozenek, the organisers pose the question - "SHOCK ALERT. DO YOU KNOW WHAT TO DO?". Thus, they want each of us to answer: do you know what the symptoms of a stroke are and how to react when you notice them, but also do you know how to prevent the disease? The materials prepared as part of the campaign redirect to the website of the largest social campaign on stroke STOP STrokes - www.stopudarom.pl, where you can find more information about the disease itself and what it entails.
PASS ON A MESSAGE THAT COULD SAVE LIVES
- Everyone is invited to share the STROKE ALERT so that the warning about the dangerous disease of stroke reaches and is remembered by as many people as possible. - Encourages Sebastian Szyper, President of the Stroke Association - Support counts!
"STROKE ALERT" will be available on the websites of the initiators and the institutions that have supported the action. It will be distributed through text messages, mailings, as well as posted on the Internet in the form of a short spot featuring Jacek Rozenk, banners and graphics with basic stroke symptoms. More information is available at www.stopudarom.pl and FB-stop-impact profile, #alertudar.
(press release)
