How to take FAST action
The American Stroke Association teaches the acronym FAST to help quickly spot a stroke and take fast action:
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, such as, "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 so the person can be brought to a hospital immediately. Check the time so the emergency room doctors will know how long it's been since the first symptoms appeared.
