When it comes to spotting stroke and getting help, the faster, the better. That’s because prompt treatment may make the difference between life and death — or the difference between a full recovery and long-term disability. Use the guidelines from the Stroke Association F.A.S.T resources to teach others as well. F-face drooping A-arm weakness S- speech T-time
Face Drooping — Does one side of the face droop or is it numb? Ask the person to smile. Is the person’s smile uneven?
Arm Weakness — Is one arm weak or numb? Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one arm drift downward?
Speech Difficulty — Is speech slurred? Is the person unable to speak or hard to understand? Ask the person to repeat a simple sentence, like “The sky is blue.” Is the sentence repeated correctly?
Time to call 911 — If someone shows any of these symptoms, even if the symptoms go away, call 911 and get the person to the hospital immediately. Check the time so you’ll know when the first symptoms appeared.
Beyond F.A.S.T. — Other Symptoms you should know — Sudden numbness or weakness of the leg, sudden confusion or trouble understanding, sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes, sudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or loss of coordination and/or sudden severe headache with no known cause.
Get More Information at the Stroke Association web site
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