If you have a medical emergency, please call 9-1-1.
Stroke is a Medical Emergency
If you think you or someone else is having a stroke, call 9-1-1 immediately and note the time when symptoms first appeared. Do not drive yourself or wait for a ride from a friend or family member. Have an ambulance take you to a hospital that is a stroke receiving center right away.
Designate Stroke Receiving Centers
Stroke Warning Signs or Symptoms
Signs or symptoms for stroke seen in both men and women may include sudden:
- Numbness or weakness of face, arm or leg, especially on one side of the body.
- Confusion, trouble speaking or understanding.
- Difficulty seeing in one or both eyes.
- Trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination.
*Signs/symptoms compiled from the National Stroke Association.
If You Think Someone May Be Having a Stroke, B.E. F.A.S.T:
B – BALANCE: Is there a sudden loss of balance or coordination?
E – EYES: Are there sudden vision changes?
F – FACE: Does one side of the face droop when the person smiles?
A – ARM or Leg Weakness: Does one arm/leg drift downward when raised?
S – SPEECH: Is their speech slurred or strange?
T – TIME: If you observe any of these signs, call 9-1-1 immediately.
Every minute counts for stroke patients and knowing how to B.E. F.A.S.T. can lead patients to the stroke treatments they desperately need. Potentially life-saving medication can be administered within three hours of the sudden symptom onset to reverse stroke.
If you think you or someone else is having a stroke, call 9-1-1 immediately and note the time when symptoms first appeared.
Designated Stroke Receiving Centers