True to its name, the award-winning and educational FAST Heroes Initiative has successfully reached 125 schools in South Africa, empowering tens of thousands of youngsters to be prepared in the case that someone around them has a stroke:
South Africa (27 September 2024) — School years mark the time for our most imaginative dreams. Becoming president. A rockstar. A superhero. In the case of the latter, the possibilities are endless no matter what subjects you take, and in South Africa, there’s a special squad equipping kids as young as 5 to become real heroes thanks to the FAST Heroes Initiative that’s prepping youngsters to save a life in the event that someone faces one of the worst villains—a stroke.
True to its name, the FAST Heroes Initiative (an award-winning educational initiative) has grown rapidly. It began successfully in the Western Cape before expanding to other parts of our country, to the point where it has reached 125 schools across South Africa, empowering 10,000 children in the past year alone!
The goal here is to educate kids on what to do when someone around them has a stroke. They are taken on a five-week adventure where they partake in interactive activities designed not only to teach life-saving skills but also to see how empathy and compassion play a big role in hero work.
Focused on children from ages 5 to 9, the programme takes them through a journey of essential information presented in a way they can understand. There are animated characters, including superhero grandparents and their grandchildren, Timmy and Tanya and the ‘evil Clot’. Through storytelling techniques and the characters, children are taught how to identify the key signs of a stroke and what to do to save a life.
“FAST Heroes provide resources that make teaching both effective and enjoyable. It’s a programme that truly resonates with the students, making learning both engaging and impactful,” shares Wendy Reitas, Loreto School Queenswood teacher who was also awarded the FAST Heroes Amazing Teacher Award in 2024.
“The FAST Heroes project is a fantastic initiative, addressing the significant issue of stroke awareness in society. Thanks to FAST Heroes, in 5, 10, or 15 years, everyone will know what a stroke is, recognise the signs of a stroke, and understand how to act FAST to prevent further damage to the survivor,” adds George Scola, Founder and CEO of the Stroke Survivors Foundation.
With World Stroke Day approaching on 29 October, we all owe it to ourselves and greater society to stay in the know.
Key Signs Someone is Having a Stroke:
- Facial drooping
- Arm weakness
- Speech impairment
FAST stands for Face, Arms, Speech and Time—a quick and easy way to remember what to look out for.
As the kids are taught, dial 112 to reach an emergency call centre. Make sure to ask for medical emergency services, and most importantly—stay calm.
You can find out more about the FAST HEROES work or sign your school up, here.
Sources: Media Release
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