Stroke Recognition for First Aid

The American Heart Association (AHA) and American Stroke Association guidelines emphasize recognizing stroke symptoms early and acting immediately. While CPR and basic life support protocols have major updates (such as choking changes and infant compression techniques), stroke first aid continues to center around the B.E. F.A.S.T. warning model and rapid emergency activation.

What to Look For: B.E. F.A.S.T.

• B — Balance: Sudden loss of balance, dizziness, or trouble walking.
• E — Eyes: Sudden vision changes or trouble seeing in one or both eyes.
• F — Face: One side of the face droops or feels numb; ask the person to smile to check for an uneven smile.
• A — Arm: One arm is weak or numb; ask the person to raise both arms to see if one drifts downward.
• S — Speech: Slurred speech, difficulty speaking, or trouble understanding speech; ask them to repeat a simple phrase.
• T — Time: Note the exact time symptoms started and call 911 immediately—even if symptoms go away.

Key First Aid Actions

• Call 911 right away: Do not wait to see if symptoms improve. Every minute of a stroke destroys millions of brain cells. [1, 2]
• Note the time: Write down or remember the exact time the person was last seen acting normally or when symptoms first began, as this dictates medical treatment windows. [1]
• Keep the person safe: Lay or sit them down in a comfortable, safe position. Do not give them anything to eat, drink, or any medications (like aspirin), because the stroke could be hemorrhagic (bleeding) rather than ischemic (clot). [1, 2]
• Monitor breathing: Be prepared to start CPR if the person becomes unresponsive and stops breathing normally.