Stroke Prevention

Taught patient and caregiver that if you notice the symptoms below, dial 9-1-1 immediately and ask that the person be taken to the nearest stroke treatment center. Treating a stroke is a race against time to save brain tissue and potentially the stroke victim’s life. It is better to seek treatment and find out that it is not a stroke than to “wait and see” and risk brain damage or death. The American Stroke Association developed this easy-to-remember guide to help identify the signs of a stroke. F.A.S.T. – Signs of Stroke Should Prompt FAST Action F – Face drooping. Is one side of the person’s face drooping or numb? When he or she smiles, is the smile uneven? A – Arm weakness. Is the person experiencing weakness or numbness in one arm? Have the person raise both arms. Does one of the arms drift downward? S – Speech difficulty. Is the person’s speech suddenly slurred or hard to understand? Is he or she unable to speak? Ask the person to repeat a simple sentence. Can he or she repeat it back? T – Time to call 9-1-1. If any of these symptoms are present, dial 9-1-1 immediately. Check the time so you can report when the symptoms began.