A stroke is when the blood supply to part of the brain is interrupted or reduced, preventing brain tissue from getting oxygen and nutrients. This causes the brain cells to die, which can occur within minutes.
The BE FAST acronym can help a rescuer identify someone who may be experiencing a stroke:
- BALANCE: Do they appear wobbly or unbalanced?
- EYES: Are they experiencing blurred vision? Do they have trouble focusing on you or anything?
- FACE: Does one side of the face droop or is numb? Ask them to show their teeth. Is there asymmetry?
- ARMS: Is one arm weak or numb? Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one arm drift downwards?
- SPEECH: Is speech slurred? Is the person unable to speak or hard to understand? Ask the person to repeat a simple sentence, like "The sky is blue." Is the sentence repeated correctly?
- TIME: Time to call 9-1-1. If someone shows any of these symptoms, even if the symptoms go away, call 9-1-1 and get the person to the hospital immediately. Check the time so you know when the first symptoms appear.
If the rescuer identifies someone who may be experiencing a stroke, they should call 9-1-1 or the designated emergency contact, monitor the victim's breathing, and have the victim lie on their back with their head and shoulders slightly raised. If the victim becomes unresponsive, the victim should be placed in the Recovery Position.
