A STROKE victim is backing a hard-hitting campaign which aims to save lives by showing people how to spot the signs of the illness.

Father-of-two Leonard Compson said he owes his life to knowing what to do when he suffered a stroke in December.

And the 62-year-old, who is now on the road to a full recovery, wants to spread the word to others.

Mr Compson, of Tynemouth, was treated at the specialist stroke unit at North Tyneside General Hospital.

The retired gas engineer, who is married to Sheila, 61, said: “I knew that I was suffering a stroke as I was aware of the symptoms.

“I went to tell my wife and I was slurring my words. It was frightening but my wife calmed me down and called NHS Direct.

“Within about 10 minutes, an ambulance picked me up and I was taken to hospital.

“I am really grateful that I knew I was having a stroke and therefore was able to get medical treatment as soon as possible. I am now well on the road to recovery.

“It is essential and critical that people know what signs and symptoms to look out for with a stroke. It could have been so different for me had I not realised what was happening.”

The Act FAST campaign aims to highlight the signs of what people should look for to identify someone suffering from a stroke, with the aim of making everyone a potential “stroke-saver”.

Following the successful campaign last year, the NHS in England saw a 25% rise in stroke related 999 calls and a 19% rise in stroke sufferers being seen quicker.

The Department of Health campaign has been running since 2009. It features television adverts that will run until the end of this month, explaining what to look for.

A stroke is a serious medical condition that happens when the blood supply to part of the brain is cut off. Quick treatment is essential as it can limit the long-term damage to the patient.

Each year, more than 150,000 people have a stroke and it is the third largest cause of death, after heart disease and cancer.

The TV adverts target adults aged 55 and over, as they are most likely to suffer from a stroke and also the most likely to be stroke savers. They will also target people of black African and Caribbean and South Asian origins, as they are twice as likely to suffer stroke as people of European origin.

Public Health Minister Anna Soubry said: “Despite being a treatable condition, stroke continues to be the third leading cause of death in England and the largest cause of adult disability. It does not need to be this way.

“The Act FAST campaign continues to save lives and prevent disability by showing us that anyone can be a stroke saver just by making sure they know how to spot the signs.

“Treatment for stroke is improving, with more and more patients being seen in specialist stroke units. However, in order for people who have had a stroke to get the treatment they need quickly, it’s essential that we are all aware of the signs and symptoms.”

STROKE SYMPTOMS

A STROKE is a medical emergency.

The Department of Health Act FAST campaign explains that people should look for:

Facial weakness – can the person smile? Has their mouth or eye drooped?

Arm weakness – can the person raise both arms?

Speech problems – can the person speak clearly and understand what you say?

Time to call 999.