Stroke Recognition

To recognize a possible stroke, first aid providers can use the signs of weakness in the face (eg, droop), arm, or grip on one side of the body or speech disturbance and should activate emergency services as quickly as possible if any of these signs are present.

The F.A.S.T. acronym can be helpful in recognizing a stroke:

F—Facial drooping

A—Arm weakness

S—Speech difficulty

T—Time to call 9-1-1