Recognizing Stroke Symptoms: BE FAST Warning Signs & Emergency Response
Stroke is a medical emergency. Use BE FAST to recognize signs:
| Letter | Sign | Description |
|---|
| B | Balance | Sudden dizziness, loss of coordination, trouble walking |
| E | Eyes | Sudden vision loss, blurriness, double vision (one/both eyes) |
| F | Face | Drooping, asymmetry (ask to smile) |
| A | Arm | Weakness/numbness (ask to raise both arms; one drifts) |
| S | Speech | Slurred, garbled, unable to speak/understand |
| T | Time | Call 911 IMMEDIATELY — note onset time |
Additional Symptoms
- Sudden severe headache ("thunderclap")
- Confusion, disorientation, memory loss
- Sudden nausea/vomiting (posterior circulation)
Critical Actions
- Call 911 — do not drive; EMS starts care en route.
- Note exact time symptoms began (determines tPA eligibility).
- Keep person calm, lying flat with head slightly elevated.
- Do not give food, water, or medication.
- If unconscious but breathing: recovery position.
Time is brain: 1.9 million neurons lost per minute. tPA window: 4.5 hours; thrombectomy up to 24 hrs for select cases.
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