Stroke Warning Signs
If you think you or someone else might be suffering a stroke, you need to act fast. You can use the word FAST to help remember the warning signs:
FACE - Ask the person to smile. Does one side of the face droop?
ARMS - Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one arm drift downward?
SPEECH - Ask the person to repeat a simple phrase. Is their speech slurred or strange?
TIME - If you observe any of these signs, call 9-1-1 immediately.
Other signs of stroke include sudden onset of:
- Change in alertness (including sleepiness, unconsciousness, and coma)
- Severe headache with no known cause
- Confusion or trouble understanding
- Difficulty seeing in one or both eyes
- Difficulty walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination
Write down the time when symptoms first began. This information is important and might affect treatment decisions.
