Campaigns launched to give important advice and help to 50+ age groups during March

Two campaigns will run during March that give you advice and guidance on lessening the risk of strokes and bowel cancer.

The first campaign reminds residents how to spot the signs of a stroke and the need to take action quickly with the relaunch of the Act F.A.S.T. stroke campaign.

The Act F.A.S.T. (Face, Arms, Speech, Time) acronym provides a way of identifying the most common signs of a stroke.

  • Face: has the person’s face fallen on one side? Can they smile?
  • Arms: can they raise both arms and keep them there?
  • Speech: is their speech slurred?
  • Time: even if you’re not sure call 999

The campaign urges people to call 999 immediately if they notice any single one of the signs of a stroke in themselves, a loved one, a friend or a stranger.

The primary audience for the campaign is the 50+ age group as they are more likely to experience a stroke, but it also gives advice on how to identify if somebody you know is showing one of the stroke signs.

Other signs to be aware of are:

  • Sudden loss of vision or blurred vision in one or both eyes
  • Sudden weakness or numbness on one side of the body
  • Sudden memory loss or confusion
  • Sudden dizziness, unsteadiness or a sudden fall, especially with any of the other signs

The campaign was relaunched on 13 February by NHS England, in association with the Stroke Association.

Bowel Cancer campaign

The second campaign encourages residents to complete and return the NHS bowel cancer screening home test kit – especially those from lower socio-economic and ethnic minority groups who are less likely to complete the test.

NHS England’s ‘Bowel Cancer Screening’ campaign aims to raise awareness of the testing kit’s ability to detect signs of cancer while also addressing the main barriers preventing people from completing the test.

The campaign is targeting people aged 56 to 74 to align with the age of eligibility for being sent a home test kit.

Early diagnosis is vital, as detecting bowel cancer at the earliest stage makes you up to nine times more likely to be successfully treated.

The campaign runs until 31 March 2023 and is supported by Cancer Research UK.