Act F.A.S.T. if you suspect a stroke!
Strokes kill about 130,000 people in the United States every year1, but by knowing the warning signs and calling for help, you could save someone’s life. Remember to act F. A. S. T.2:
Face drooping: does the person have drooping on one side of their face, or is one side of their face numb? When you ask them to smile, does it look like one corner of their mouth doesn’t raise up?
Arm weakness: does the person have difficulty lifting one arm, or keeping one of their arms up when you ask them to raise their arms?
Speech problems: does the person slur their speech, have difficulty making words, or is suddenly unable to speak? Do they struggle when asked to repeat a simple phrase, such as “summer in Tucson is hot” or “snow falls in the winter”?
Time to call: if you see someone who has any one, or more, of these symptoms, it is time to call 9-1-1. It is important to call 9-1-1 immediately, even if the symptoms disappear.
You could save their life!
For more information, including other symptoms to watch for, check out the links below, or visit the American Heart Association (http://www.heart.org/) or American Stroke Association (http://www.strokeassociation.org/STROKEORG/) websites.
References:
- CDC stroke fact sheet: http://www.cdc.gov/stroke/facts.htm
- AHA stroke warning signs: http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/Conditions/911-Warnings-Signs-of-a-Heart-Attack_UCM_305346_SubHomePage.jsp