Use the FAST test to check for the most common symptoms of a stroke in yourself or someone else.
Minutes matter in treating a stroke. Calling a doctor or driving to the hospital yourself wastes time. Ambulance workers can judge your situation sooner, and that boosts your chance of getting the treatment you need as soon as possible.
- Face: Smile and see if one side of the face droops.
- Arms: Raise both arms. Does one arm drop down?
- Speech: Say a short phrase and check for slurred or strange speech.
- Time: If the answer to any of these is yes, call 911 right away and write down the time when symptoms started.