Children from two local schools contributed to breaking a Guinness World Record title through their participation in the life-saving stroke awareness initiative, Fast Heroes, by learning how to save their grandparents in case of a stroke.
Petunia Primary school in Kraaifontein and Brackenfell Primary school were among seven other schools in South Africa and 20 worldwide that participated in the launch of the campaign by creating the largest online photo album of people wearing superhero costume masks, breaking the world record with 20 350 photos.
Fast Heroes, an award-winning health educational campaign that teaches children between five and nine to recognise the three most common stroke symptoms – a sudden droopy face, weakness in the arm or difficulty with speech – and to phone the local emergency services right away to protect their grandparents.
For the record attempt, undertaken to celebrate the campaign launch, people were asked to upload a photo of themselves wearing a superhero mask via the online campaign photo booth.
In total, 20 350 unique photos were submitted, with children, parents and grandparents sharing “superhero selfies” from all around the world.
“The campaign leverages children’s amazing enthusiasm for learning and sharing, encouraging them to spread knowledge to the rest of their family, particularly to their grandparents. Through incidental learning, families and communities become more aware and better prepared if a stroke occurs,” says Jan van der Merwe from the Angels Initiative, who leads the Fast Heroes campaign.
“Succeeding in achieving such an impressive Guinness World Record title is a great way to show the huge engagement and support that the Fast Heroes campaign is receiving from around the world.”
Sheila Martins, neurology professor and president elect of the World Stroke Organisation, who supports and endorses the campaign, says one in four people will have a stroke in their lifetime, making it a prominent issue that touches many of us.
“Worldwide, stroke is the second leading cause of death and the third leading cause of disability. However, stroke is treatable. People who have a stroke need access to high quality acute care as quickly as possible, so increasing awareness of the key symptoms is vital. Children can help make a real difference by sparking interest among their wider family. The overarching aim is to help ensure that when stroke strikes, our parents and grandparents can survive with their lives intact thanks to effective and fast treatment,” she says.
“The children play online games and do class activities to learn about strokes and this year will include more grades from our school,” says a spokesperson from Brackenfell Primary School.
Following the world record title success, the Fast Heroes campaign that will come to an end on 29 April this year, will continue recruiting new teachers and schools as it works towards its mission of educating a million children from across the world about stroke.
