Do you know how to recognize the signs of a stroke?

During a stroke, every minute counts. Fast treatment can reduce the brain damage that a stroke can cause. The most effective treatments are available if a stroke is recognized and diagnosed within 3 hours.

Please take a moment to familiarize yourself with these symptoms:

F– Face: ask the person to smile, does one side of the face droop?

A-Arms: ask the person to raise both arms, does one drop?

S- Speech: ask the person to say a few words, are they slurred?

T- Time: if you observe any of these signs, call 911 immediately.

Note the time when any symptoms appear.  Do not drive the person to the hospital; call 911 so that the medically trained ambulance crew can begin treatment on the way to the emergency room.

This information is courtesy of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. To view a helpful video about recognizing the signs of a stroke go to http://stroke.nih.gov/materials/knowstrokevideo.htm)