Stroke: act FAST

Sudden neurological symptoms

1FACE

Ask the person to smile. Does one side of the face droop?

2ARMS

Ask them to raise both arms. Does one arm drift down or fail to rise?

3SPEECH

Ask them to repeat a simple sentence. Is speech slurred, strange or absent?

4TIME

If any sign is present, call 911 now and note the time the symptoms started or the last time they were seen well.

5WHILE WAITING

Keep them still and comfortable, nothing to eat or drink, do not give aspirin. Note medications and medical history for EMS.

6HANDOVER

Tell EMS the onset time, the signs you saw and any blood thinners the person takes.

Remember

Treatment is time-critical: minutes matter.
Symptoms that go away on their own still need emergency evaluation.

Source: MedlinePlus: Stroke (public domain). Follow your local protocols and current guidelines; this guide is a memory aid for trained people, not a substitute for training.

Practise it with a virtual patient

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