1. Recognizing the Signs of a Stroke

FAST Method

  • Face drooping: Ask the person to smile. Does one side of the face droop?
  • Arm weakness: Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one arm drift downward?
  • Speech difficulty: Ask the person to repeat a simple sentence. Are the words slurred or hard to understand?
  • Time to call emergency services: If any of these signs are present, call emergency services immediately.

Additional Symptoms

  • Sudden numbness or weakness in the face, arm, or leg, especially on one side of the body
  • Sudden confusion, trouble speaking, or 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

2. Immediate Actions to Take

Call Emergency Services

  • Dial emergency services immediately (e.g., 911 in the US).
  • Provide the dispatcher with your location and describe the symptoms.

Stay with the Person

  • Keep the person calm and reassured.
  • Do not let them eat or drink anything.

Positioning

  • Lay the person down with their head slightly elevated.
  • Turn them onto their side if they are unconscious or vomiting, to prevent choking.

3. What Not to Do

  • Do not give the person food, drink, or medication.
  • Do not drive the person to the hospital yourself unless there is no other option.
  • Do not wait to see if the symptoms go away on their own.

4. What to Expect When Emergency Services Arrive

Information to Provide

  • Describe the symptoms and when they began.
  • Provide any known medical history and medications the person is taking.
  • Mention any allergies.

Initial Assessments

  • Emergency responders will assess vital signs and symptoms.
  • They may perform a brief neurological exam.

Transportation to Hospital

  • The person will be transported to the nearest hospital with stroke treatment facilities.
  • Emergency responders may start treatment on the way to the hospital, such as administering oxygen or starting an IV.

5. Hospital Treatment

Emergency Room Assessment

  • Medical staff will quickly assess the person and perform diagnostic tests (e.g., CT scan, MRI) to determine the type of stroke.

Acute Treatments

  • Ischemic Stroke: Possible treatments include administering a clot-busting drug (tPA) or performing a mechanical thrombectomy to remove the clot.
  • Hemorrhagic Stroke: Treatment may include controlling the bleeding and reducing pressure in the brain through medication or surgery.

Stabilization

  • After initial treatment, the person will be monitored in the intensive care unit (ICU) or stroke unit.

6. After the Acute Phase

Rehabilitation

  • Physical, occupational, and speech therapy to regain lost functions.
  • Developing a personalized rehabilitation plan with healthcare providers.

Secondary Prevention

  • Medications to prevent future strokes (e.g., anticoagulants, antihypertensives, statins).
  • Lifestyle changes such as diet, exercise, and smoking cessation.

Support and Resources

  • Connecting with support groups for stroke survivors and caregivers.
  • Accessing educational materials and community resources.