July 2017
During a stroke, every minute counts. Receiving treatment quickly can lessen stroke-related brain damage.
Signs of Stroke
- Sudden numbness or weakness in the face, arm or leg, especially on one side of the body
- Sudden confusion, trouble speaking or difficulty understanding speech
- Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes
- Sudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or lack of coordination
- Sudden severe headache with no known cause
Do the following simple test:
- F-Face: Ask the person to smile. Does one side of the face droop?
- A-Arms: Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one arm drift downward?
- S-Speech: Ask the person to repeat a simple phrase. Is the speech slurred or strange?
- T-Time: If you see any of these signs, call 9-1-1 right away.
Don’t drive to the hospital or let someone else drive you. Call an ambulance so that medical personnel can begin life-saving treatment on the way to the emergency room.
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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