World Stroke Day

Every year on October 29, the American Heart Association and its division, the American Stroke Association, join global efforts to raise awareness about stroke prevention, recognition, and treatment.

B.E. F.A.S.T. - Balance Loss - Eye (Vision) Changes - Face Drooping - Arm Weakness - Speech Difficulty - Time to Call EMS

B = Balance Loss
Is there a sudden loss of balance or coordination? Is the person having trouble walking or experiencing dizziness?

E = Eye (Vision) Changes
Are there sudden changes in vision? Ask the person if they are experiencing blurred vision, double vision, or loss of sight in one or both eyes.

F = Face Drooping
Does one side of the face droop, or is it numb? Ask the person to smile. Is the person's smile uneven?

A = Arm Weakness
Is one arm weak or numb? Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one arm drift downward?

S = Speech Difficulty
Is speech slurred or difficult to understand? Ask the person to repeat a simple sentence.

T = Time to Call EMS
If you have any of these symptoms or see someone else having them, call EMS immediately!