Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland Launches Campaign to Raise Awareness of Stroke Symptoms

Every year, thousands of people in Scotland are left facing lifelong disability or even death. It is time for people to be more aware on the signs and symptoms, and the importance of acting FAST to help save more lives.

Today, on World Stroke Day, a major national campaign from Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland is aiming to drive home the simple, four-letter acronym that could save a life, FAST: Face, Arms, Speech, Time.

The campaign, now in its second year, is grounded in newly released data from a YouGov survey of more than 2,000 people across Scotland. Overall, FAST awareness has improved, rising from 68% at the end of 2024 to 74% by August 2025. However, for those from ethnic minority backgrounds, awareness remains worryingly low at just 46%.

Among people aged 18–24, awareness sits at only 55%, significantly lower than the 78% seen in older age groups. That’s despite strokes becoming increasingly common among younger adults, often caused by lifestyle factors and underlying health conditions.

The research reinforces that people who do not know the FAST acronym are less likely to know the signs of stroke, or to call 999 if they see one happening to themselves or others. That’s why Scotland’s leading stroke support charity is putting its full weight behind the campaign again this year, and urging the public to help ensure that everyone knows how to spot a stroke in action, and act without hesitation.

The FAST acronym helps people remember the most common signs of stroke: a drooping Face, weakness in the Arms, and slurred or confusing Speech. The final letter, Time, is a call to immediate action: dial 999 straight away.

Jane-Claire Judson, Chief Executive at Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland said: “For someone having a stroke, every second counts. The sooner they receive emergency care, the more likely they are to survive and avoid serious long-term disability. That’s why FAST is more than just a memory aid, it’s a lifeline.

“Stroke doesn’t just affect older people, it can hit anyone, at any age. We want young people, especially those in marginalised communities, to know the signs and feel confident calling 999. Delaying could cost someone their future.”

Encouragingly, the campaign is proving its effectiveness. Among those polled who are aware of the FAST message, a staggering 95% said they would call 999 immediately if they suspected a stroke, compared to just 88% of those who were unaware.

Confidence in recognising symptoms also soared: the average confidence rating jumped from 2.4 to 3.3 out of 5 among those who had knowledge of the FAST acronym.

As part of this year’s campaign, Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland has trained more than 1,500 frontline staff, from community health workers to pharmacists, on the FAST protocol, with 90% retaining the knowledge three months after their training.

Jane-Claire added: “We believe education is empowerment, and this year we’re going further by expanding our social media and marketing outreach in underrepresented communities to spread the message where it’s needed most. We are additionally offering campaign materials in Urdu, Ukrainian and Polish for further accessibility.

“We’ve also been incredibly heartened to have the support of every single health board in the country reinforcing FAST, whether that’s through physical stands in hospitals or other means of support within community healthcare settings.”

One striking figure from the research was the link between awareness and action. Those familiar with FAST were far more likely to respond correctly in an emergency, not only by calling 999, but by recognising that time-critical response is essential to preventing brain damage.

“There’s no time for second-guessing,” said Jane-Claire. “A person loses 1.9 million brain cells every minute during a stroke. We need everyone, regardless of age, postcode, or background, to know that when it comes to stroke, acting FAST is the only option.”

As an organisation leading the charge, Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland is encouraging people across the country to share the FAST message on social media, speak with family members, and take five minutes to learn the signs.

For more information on recognising stroke and how you can help spread awareness, visit: www.chss.org.uk/FAST