Stroke warning signs and first steps

A concise family guide: FAST, last-known-well time, and what not to do at home.

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A one-page flyer for families and caregivers. Print and post it where it can be easily seen.

FFace

Ask the person to smile. Does one side of the face droop or look uneven?

AArm

Ask them to raise both arms. Does one side drift down or feel weak?

SSpeech

Ask them to say a sentence. Is speech slurred, jumbled, or hard to follow?

TTime

Note the last time the person was seen normal and seek help immediately.

Record the last-known-normal time

Not the time symptoms were noticed, but the last time the person was seen without symptoms. Write it on a phone or paper. This information drives acute treatment options.

First steps when symptoms appear

01Call emergency services or a local ambulance.
02Position the patient safely with head slightly raised, do not force drinking.
03Gather a medication list, medical history, and family contact details.
04Transport to a facility able to assess acute stroke as fast as possible.

Avoid doing at home

Giving food, drink, or extra medication before medical assessment.
Giving blood thinners or blood-pressure medicine without a doctor's instruction.
Waiting for symptoms to pass, applying massage, or having the person rest first.
Driving yourself to the hospital while neurological symptoms are active.