Stroke is the No. 5 cause of death and a leading cause of disability in the U.S. Stroke can happen to anyone — any age, any time — and everyone needs to know the warning signs. Calling 112 lets first responders start treatment on someone experiencing stroke symptoms before arriving at the hospital.
When you have a stroke, your brain isn’t getting the blood it needs. You need treatment right away to lower your chances of brain damage, disability, or even death.
Use the FAST test to check for the most common symptoms of a stroke in yourself or someone else.
Face = Smile and see if one side of the face droops.
Arms = Raise both arms. Does one arm drop down?
Speech = Say a short phrase and check for slurred or strange speech.
Time = If the answer to any of these is yes, call 112 right away and write down the time when symptoms started.
Minutes matter in treating stroke. Calling a doctor or driving to the hospital yourself wastes time. Ambulance workers can judge your situation sooner, and that boosts your chance of getting the treatment you need as soon as possible.
see the rest of the page
ADVERTISEMENT
