Know the signs of stroke. Be ready to act.

Remember BE FAST

Stroke symptoms often start suddenly. Use BE FAST to help recognize the warning signs and know when to call for help:

• B — Balance: Sudden trouble walking, dizziness or loss of balance.
• E — Eyes: Sudden blurred vision or trouble seeing in one or both eyes.
• F — Face: Does one side of the face droop when the person smiles?
• A — Arms: Does one arm feel weak or drift down when the person raises both arms?
• S — Speech: Are their words slurred or hard to understand? Are they having trouble speaking?
• T — Time: Call 9-1-1 immediately if you notice any of these signs.

Other warning signs can include sudden confusion, weakness or numbness on one side of the body, or a sudden severe headache with no clear cause. You do not need to have every symptom for it to be an emergency.

Don’t wait for symptoms to pass

Call 9-1-1 even if symptoms improve or disappear. Symptoms that go away may signal a transient ischemic attack (TIA), which is a warning of a possible future stroke and needs emergency care.

“You don’t have to be certain someone is having a stroke to call for help,” says Dr. Samaniego. “Recognizing that something is wrong and calling 9-1-1 can make a difference.”

Note when symptoms first started and share that information with emergency responders. Call for an ambulance instead of driving yourself or having someone drive you. Emergency responders can begin care on the way to the hospital, and prompt treatment can help reduce brain damage.

Watch: Know the signs of stroke

Would you know what to look for it someone you love were having a stroke? In this Medical Minute, Dr. Samaniego walks through the BE FAST warning signs and explains why getting help right away matters. Take a minute to watch and share with someone you care about.