Stroke is a medical emergency. More people are surviving stroke because of increased public awareness, better treatment and coordinated systems of care, but four in 10 Canadians do not know how to recognize the signs of stroke.
FAST is an easy way to remember the most common signs of stroke. FAST stands for Face–is it drooping? Arms–can you raise both? Speech–is it slurred or jumbled? And Time–to call 9-1-1 right away!
If witnessing or experiencing the signs of stroke, do not drive to the hospital. An ambulance will get you to the best hospital for stroke care.
To see FAST in action, and the difference that minutes can make, take a look at this video created by the Northwestern Ontario Regional Stroke Network.