Stroke: act FAST
Four letters that help you spot a stroke, and what to do in the first minutes.
A stroke happens when the blood supply to part of the brain is cut off by a clot or a bleed. Brain cells begin to die within minutes, so the faster someone reaches hospital, the more of the brain can be saved.
FAST
- Face: ask the person to smile. Does one side droop?
- Arms: ask them to raise both arms. Does one drift down?
- Speech: ask them to repeat a simple sentence. Is it slurred or strange?
- Time: if you see any one of these, get to a hospital straight away.
Other warning signs
- Sudden numbness or weakness on one side of the body
- Sudden confusion or trouble understanding
- Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes
- Sudden dizziness or loss of balance
- A sudden, severe headache with no known cause
What to do
Call 110 for an ambulance, or bring the person to Accident & Emergency. Don’t let them drive.
Note the time the symptoms started. The medical team will ask.
Don’t give food, drink or medicine, including aspirin. Some strokes are bleeds, and swallowing may be unsafe.
If the symptoms pass after a few minutes, still come in. A “mini-stroke” is often a warning of a bigger one.
Lowering your risk
High blood pressure is the biggest cause of stroke. Controlling it, along with diabetes and cholesterol, stopping smoking and staying active, prevents most strokes.