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AIBU?

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Original poster

to find the Stroke 'advert' far too scary and

96 replies

BlackEyedDogstar · 14/02/2009 16:56

think it should be certificated like horror movies are?

Ds is playing and Grand Designs is on tv in the background as I am interested in Kevin McCloud architecture - and this horrible informercial or whatever it is, has just come on and freaked out 5 yr old DS. I don't know if it's the image of the lady's brain on fire or the awful slump of her face that has upset him most. It has frightened and worried him now.

FFS.

OP posts:
Geepers · 14/02/2009 16:58

Poor you.

Hope you are never faced with being first on the scene of a stroke.

pipsqueak · 14/02/2009 16:59

agree it is scary - freaked out dd2 aged 6 as well . do people need to be reminded to get medical attention if someone has these symptons ?it seems bleedin obvious .

SweetCheeksLovesSweetTalk · 14/02/2009 17:00

My dhs nan had a stroke whilst at our house, I find this advert horrifying as it brings it all back.

DH cant bear it and will even turn over if he hears it on the radio.

Geepers · 14/02/2009 17:02

To be honest I don't know if I'd call an ambulance for those symptoms, but having seen that ad then I would. Face, Arms, Speech, Time. It's worked for me.

Original poster
BlackEyedDogstar · 14/02/2009 17:02

I have been the first to notice a friend experiencing a stroke as it happens and I don't mind the message. It's the strong imagery and it's placement amongst other innocuous ads midday that I am at.

OP posts:
Thunderduck · 14/02/2009 17:03

I think a lot of people wouldn't think it necessary to call 999 if presented with those symptoms. So the campaign is necessary imho.

Rindercella · 14/02/2009 17:06

The thing is, if it saves lives (and fast mediacal attention following a stroke could save a life)then it is surely worth it? When I saw that man have a heart attack and die in Corrie a couple of weeks ago it all too vividly brought back the time a colleague tragically had a heart attack at work, when we were mid conversation. Nothing could've saved him, but if something could've been done and there had been a similar advert to the stroke one, then it could've helped him.

Some things in life are not pretty, but this is too big a deal to hide away.

MaryBSnowing · 14/02/2009 17:08

I think the advert is brilliant. My dad had several strokes. Anything that raises awareness is good.

However I don't think it should be on when it could scare young children.

Thunderduck · 14/02/2009 17:09

It is a little creepy but PSAs from the 70's and 80's were even more disturbing, and kids survived those.

Lotster · 14/02/2009 17:09

Sorry YAB a bit U - it made be a bit uncomfortable first time I saw it but it could save a life so it hardly matters.

HeliumBee · 14/02/2009 17:11

YANBU - I agree - it freaked my children (and me!) out - too graphic for middle of the day.

Madmentalbint · 14/02/2009 17:13

I agree the ad is upsetting but I wouldn't say it is any more scary to a child than the anti-drink drive/speeding adverts or the anti-smoking adverts. I'm not sure if they are shown in the day or not.

The advert where the little girl is run over and then it is played backwards is horrible. I hate the noise of her bones moving back into place. Bleurrghhh! My DC's hate the one in the pub where the lady gets thrown onto the table where the men are drinking.

Does anyone remember an anti-smoking advert about 20 years ago where they showed you what a pregnant woman designed to smoke would look like? Now that was freaky and had me running behind the sofa.

sagacious · 14/02/2009 17:14

I think its a very good advert and sadly is needed (yes its disturbing for young children thats what the remote/oh look at that big birdie in the garden is for)

HeadFairy · 14/02/2009 17:14

I think it's very useful, I wouldn't have known necessarily the symptoms of a stroke. I could probably have guessed but actually seeing someone's face slump like that is an image that's going to stick in my mind.

Original poster
BlackEyedDogstar · 14/02/2009 17:21

I was too slow with the remote - under the blasted cushion - and DS was transfixed by it. The imagery is powerful and perhaps necessary but I think it should be aimed at a later in the day audience.

And yes awful creepy backwards dead girl ! Hate that too.

Should retire and live in a sugar pink bubble obv.

OP posts:
amblyd · 23/02/2009 08:33

My mum died last year 2 days before mothers day aged 54 of a stroke. I am delighted that finally some stroke awareness is being shown on tv to spare someone else the horrific pain of losing their amazing lovely mum at 54. The face doesnt always slump. My mums symptoms at first were very discreet but had i seen this advert first, I think i would have been more aware.
I am so frustrated at people getting freaked out about it. I hope to god nobody has to see it for real like i had to. It is about time that people became more aware of the dangers of stroke and that it can happen to anyone, any age.

fledtoscotland · 23/02/2009 08:43

i think its about time that people were made aware of strokes. FIL had one this saturday whilst we were with him. I'm a nurse and its still scary. DH was able to remember the advert and he called 999 whilst i looked after FIL

throckenholt · 23/02/2009 08:56

I think it is needed to be honest. Most people don't recognise a stroke or if they do they don't realise it is a medical emergency.

With a heart attack they know to dial 999 - but with a stroke they will more likely try to get a gps appointment. But with a stroke time is very important and if treatment is started within an hour or so it can make a huge difference to the outcome.

As for children - I would explain that people's heads don't catch fire - it is just a way of trying to make you notice and realise how important it is. And that it is for grown ups and not little children (after grand designs is not aimed at 5 year olds, and I don't think they run the adverts in childrens tv time).

troutpout · 23/02/2009 09:13

omg...i said exactly the same thing to dh last night.
It is a little too graphic. ds and dd were both staring at it with a horrified look on their faces last night.

ds said 'is that was grandpa was like before he died ...did he have a hole in his brain like that ?'

screamingabdab · 23/02/2009 09:44

Great advert. Really useful

Should not be shown before about 8pm IMO

FAQinglovely · 23/02/2009 09:52

I think it's a very good advert, has certainly instilled into my head the signs of a stroke. Don't think it should be limited to after 8pm personally - strokes don't happen to those who happen to watch TV after the watershed.

babymt · 23/02/2009 10:12

Oh don't get me started on these "adverts". I don't think we need to be told how to live our lives and there are just wayyyyyy to many of these out there at the moment.

Don't drink. Don't smoke. Don't have unprotected sex. Wear your seatbelt. Don't take drugs. If you have a stroke do this. Use energy saving lightbulbs. Save abused children. The list goes on and on and on.

The absolute worst one is the "I'm scared my mummys going to die" one. There is no way that a small child is going to understand its about smoking. All its going to do is freak them out that their mummy is going to die.

If they want to advertise stroke type adverts then they should be put on at appropriate times and NOT on the radio at all. The "I'm scared mummys going to die" one has been on the radio in school run time FFS! As soon as I hear it or see it on the tv I turn it off ASAP.

Oooooh and the dead child one following him around! That freaked the living crap out of me!!! Dead child lying under your computer desk....dead child on floor as you turn over in bed. ARGH!!!!!!!

FAQinglovely · 23/02/2009 16:13

what you really think that an advert which could potentially save YOUR life shouldn't be shown?? I thought I pretty much knew what to look for for signs of a stroke - but this advert has certainly opened my eyes and made me more aware.

mosschops30 · 23/02/2009 16:18

yes people do need reminding, if someone having a stroke recieves immediate medical attention it can affect their recovery massively.

I think these adevrts are necessary and IMHO the smoking advert is the best one there has ever been and has certainly made me want to give up.

I remember seeing the AIDS adverts when I was small, yes it was terrifying, but made me think even as an adult, without any lasting trauma. Im not sure why parents these days want to shield their kids from everything, because when the shit does hit the fan, how the hell are they going to cope?

FAQinglovely · 23/02/2009 16:23

babymt - this is hardly a "how to live your life advert" - this is a how to SAVE a life advert. Hugely different.

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