Strokes happen when the blood supply to part of the brain is cut off by a blood clot. Strokes are a medical emergency and urgent treatment is essential.
If you suspect someone is having a stroke, think ‘FAST’:
Face – ask them to smile. If they are only able to smile on one side of their mouth and/or their eye may also have dropped – this is not normal.
Arms – ask them to raise both arms. If they are only able to lift one arm – this is not normal.
Speech – ask them to speak. If their speech is slurred or garbled, or they are unable to talk despite being awake – this is not normal.
Time – if you see any of these signs or symptoms you must dial 999 immediately and tell them you think the casualty is having a stroke.
Strokes are a serious life-threatening condition, there are more than 100,000 strokes in the UK each year. That’s around one stroke every five minutes.