Acting F.A.S.T. Is Key for Stroke
Acting F.A.S.T. can help stroke patients get the treatments they desperately need. The most effective stroke treatments are available only if the stroke is recognized and diagnosed within three hours of the first symptoms. Stroke patients may not receive the most effective treatments if they don’t arrive at the hospital in time.
If you think someone may be having a stroke, act F.A.S.T. and use the following simple test:
F—Face: Ask the person to smile. Does one side of the face droop?
A—Arms: Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one arm drift downward?
S—Speech: Ask the person to repeat a simple phrase. Is their speech slurred or strange?
T—Time: If you observe any of these signs, call for emergency help immediately.
Note the time when any symptoms first appear. Some treatments for stroke work only if given in the first three hours after symptoms appear. If you think you are having a stroke, do not drive to the hospital or let someone else drive you. Instead, call an ambulance so that medical personnel can begin life-saving treatment on the way to the emergency room.
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention