FAST stands for face, arms, speech and time, and is being used as part of a campaign by the Stroke Awareness Foundation to educate the public about warning signs of stroke and seek proper medical services immediately. If you think someone is having a stroke, call 9-1-1, especially if the person has trouble with these basic commands:
– Face: Does one side of the face droop? Ask the person to smile.
– Arms: Is one arm weak or numb? Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one arm drift downward?
– Speech: Is speech slurred? Ask the person to repeat a simple sentence. Is the sentence repeated correctly?
– Time: If the person shows any of these symptoms, call 911 immediately if you or a loved one experience these symptoms.
“Time lost is brain lost.”
~ American Stroke Association
