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Aurora Medical Center

Stroke

ED services | S.A.N.E. | Training | STEMI Protocol | Stroke | EMS partnership | Contact us | ED home

Stroke is a medical emergency – know the warning signs of stroke

• Sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arm or leg, especially on one side of the body
• Sudden confusion, trouble speaking or understanding
• Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes
• Sudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination
• Sudden, severe headache with no known cause
• Instead of or in addition to these, women may also have:
• Abdominal pain or cramping
• Sudden fatigue, nausea or dizziness
• Jaw pain

Early diagnosis of a stroke can make the difference in preventing or reducing brain damage.

Remember to act F.A.S.T. when someone is having a stroke. F.A.S.T. is an acronym for:

• Face: Ask the person to smile. Does one side of the face droop?
• Arms: Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one drift downward?
• Speech: Have the person repeat a simple phrase. Does the speech sound slurred or strange?
• Time• : Act quickly.

If you observe any of these signs, or loss of vision, severe headaches or sudden dizziness, the person may be experiencing a stroke – even if the symptoms disappear after a few minutes. Transporting the person urgently to a certified stroke center offers the greatest chance of preventing or limiting brain damage.