What To Know

What Should I Know About Stroke?

A stroke is a medical emergency and requires immediate medical help. The sooner you get emergency care, the less likely you will suffer long-term disability or death.

The National Stroke Association’s acronym FAST can help you quickly determine whether someone is having a stroke:

• F (Face): Ask the person to smile. Does one side of his or her face droop?
• A (Arms): Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one arm drift downward?
• S (Speech): Ask for a simple phrase (such as,“You can’t teach an old dog new tricks”) to be repeated. Is speech slurred or hard to understand?
• T (Time): If you observe any of these signs, call 911 immediately.

Always be sure to note the time of onset of symptoms, as your emergency medical team will need to know exactly when the first symptoms began.