The public is being urged to learn how to recognise the signs of a stroke in an effort to save lives.

The Bermuda Hospitals Board’s Primary Stroke Centre put out the call to increase public awareness of the condition in the run-up to World Stroke Day on Saturday.

Kehinde Kolapo, BHB consultant neurologist, said: “Every second counts when treating someone who is experiencing a stroke. We really need everyone on the island to recognise when someone is having a stroke and to get them to the hospital right away.”

Dr Kolapo said the acronym BE FAST serves as a helpful reminder of the symptoms of a stroke and the actions that must be taken.

He added: “These two words can really help everyone remember the symptoms.

“B is for balance. People who become dizzy or lose their sense of balance could be experiencing a stroke.

“E is for eyes. A stroke may cause sudden blurred vision.

“F is for face. If one side of the face starts to droop, it could signify a stroke.

“A is for arms. Sudden weakness in an arm, or a leg, is another symptom of stroke.

“S is for speech. Those experiencing a stroke may have slurred or unintelligible speech, or they may not be able to speak.

“T is for time, which means you need to get the person to the Emergency Department as soon as possible.

“There are some types of stroke for which we can administer a drug that bursts the blood clot, effectively ending the stroke but there is a very short window of time in which it is safe to do this.”

BHB’s Primary Stroke Centre, launched in 2019 as part of an affiliation with Johns Hopkins Medicine International, attained distinction certification from Accreditation Canada in April for its acute stroke and inpatient rehabilitation service standards.

The full Accreditation Canada report on its certification is available at www.bermudahospitals.bm.

BHB CEO and president Michael Richmond said: “Stroke distinction certification is the highest commendation a stroke centre can receive in the Accreditation Canada system, and this aligns with BHB’s vision to pursue excellence through improvement, to make Bermuda proud.”

The centre’s team of professionals aims to decrease the number of people who experience strokes by providing the best care and education.

Sita Ingram, vice-president of King Edward VII Memorial Hospital clinical operations and member of the Primary Stroke Centre Working Group, said: “We are tackling prevention by educating the public. BE FAST is the message we need every resident to know and adhere to.”

Wallet-sized BE FAST cards are available for collection for free this week at the Bermuda Diabetes Association and the reception desks at King Edward VII Memorial Hospital and the Mid-Atlantic Wellness Institute.

Accreditation Canada conducted an on-site survey at BHB from February 28 to March 3 interviewing staff, stroke patients, their families and Primary Stroke Centre partner organisations.

BHB said that since the launch of the Primary Stroke Centre, patient outcomes have “significantly improved in Bermuda due to a more clearly defined process for managing stroke patients, together with a robust national campaign highlighting the signs and symptoms of stroke and the importance of attending the hospital immediately”.

It said that in 2018, strokes had become an epidemic on the island.

A spokeswoman said: “At its peak, 14 per cent of those who experienced a stroke were able to receive a clot-busting drug that increased their chances of fully recovering. Not all stroke patients are eligible to receive the drug.”

In 2021, Dr Francene Gayle, then Primary Stroke Centre director, said the figure was impressive and almost double the 7 per cent average of primary stroke centres in the US.

The centre also dealt with its first transoceanic mechanical thrombectomy case – a thrombectomy is a surgical procedure used to remove blood clots from arteries and veins.

A spokeswoman said: “In this instance, a local patient with a major blockage in a major artery of the brain was diagnosed and airlifted to The Johns Hopkins Hospital within 17 hours. The patient received life-saving thrombectomy surgery and is likely the first in the world to have experienced the transoceanic service.”