The first sign of a stroke might not seem like much. Like not being able to raise your arm, or struggling to smile, or slurring when you speak. Even if it doesn’t seem like it, any sign of a stroke is always an emergency.

A stroke strikes every five minutes. Every year in the UK, there are around 100,000 strokes, causing 38,000 stroke-related deaths, and it is a leading cause of disability.

Earlier recognition of symptoms and immediate action enables faster access to specialist treatment and the best chance of reducing long-term effects such as disability.

• Call 999 immediately when you notice any sign of a stroke

• Act FAST. Face or arm or speech, at the first sign, it's time to call 999.

Even if it doesn’t seem like it, any sign of stroke is always an emergency, so call 999 immediately if you or someone else experiences a single symptom. The first signs of a stroke include:

• Face weakness – it might be hard to smile, and one side of your face may droop (fall)
• Arm weakness – you may not be able to fully lift both arms and keep them there because of weakness or numbness in one arm
• Speech problems – you may slur your words or sound confused

Other symptoms that could be the first sign you or someone else is having a stroke include:

• Sudden weakness or numbness on one side of your body (including in your leg)
• Sudden loss of vision or blurred vision in one or both eyes
• Sudden difficulty speaking or thinking of words
• Sudden memory loss or confusion
• Sudden severe headache
• Sudden dizziness, unsteadiness or a sudden fall, especially with any of the other signs

Whether it is a friend, loved one or even a passer-by, any sign of a stroke is always an emergency, so call 999 immediately if you or someone else experiences a single symptom.

Acting FAST on any sign of a stroke gives patients faster access to specialist treatment that could save their life.

Face or Arm or Speech, at the first sign, it’s Time to call 999.

Visit www.nhs.uk/ActFAST for more information.

Watch or listen to this captioned video:

BSL (British Sign Language) users can make a BSL video relay call to 999 using the 999 BSL website or app. Follow this link to visit 999BSL.co.uk>>

Text relay users can call 18000 to contact 999.

If you are a BSL user, deaf, have hearing loss or communication difficulties you can text 999 by registering your phone in advance. For more information please visit www.emergencysms.co.uk>>