NAEMT, Genentech Launch PSA Partnership To Increase Public Awareness of Stroke Indicators and Calling 9-1-1

NAEMT, in partnership with Genentech, a member of the Roche Group, has launched a new public service announcement to increase public awareness of the signs of stroke and to call 9-1-1 for immediate medical attention.

Each year in the United States there are 795,000 incidents of stroke, killing 128,000 people (about 1 out of every 19 deaths per year). Stroke is the leading cause of disability in the U.S. and the fifth cause of death among U.S. adults. The vast majority of strokes (87 percent) are ischemic strokes, caused by a blood clot in the blood vessels of the brain. Since the start of the pandemic, calls to 9-1-1 for stroke have decreased. According to a recent national survey of EMS agencies, overall EMS call volumes have not recovered to pre-pandemic levels.

Stroke can happen to anyone, of any age, at any time and the signs can be subtle and hard to recognize. Educating yourself and others is key to noticing and responding quickly—so it's important for everyone to learn and understand the BE FAST signs of stroke: Difficulty or changes in Balance; vision changes in one or both Eyes, Face Drooping, Arm Weakness, Speech Difficulty, Time to Call 911 (B.E. F.A.S.T.).*

“EMS play a crucial role in assessing strokes and making sure patients are taken to hospitals best equipped to care for them.  We must increase awareness of the urgent need to call 9-1-1 when an individual displays any of the signs of stroke so that EMS can respond. This new public service announcement will expand the public’s understanding about stroke and encourage them to call 9-1-1 for help,” stated NAEMT President Bruce Evans.

“We’re proud to partner with NAEMT on this initiative as we share the same goal of increasing stroke awareness and education,” said Gregory Rippon, M.D., M.S., VP, Neurology, Ophthalmology and Internal Medicine, Medical Affairs, Genentech.

“We hope this important public service announcement empowers and educates people, so they quickly recognize signs of stroke in themselves or in someone else, and treat it as a serious medical emergency that requires immediate care.”

If you experience a sudden onset of any of these symptoms, it's important to seek immediate medical attention. Rapid assessment is essential in identifying and treating stroke. For more information, visit: strokeawareness.com.