Knowing the symptoms of a stroke is important. Maybe the person next to you suddenly can’t form a sentence. One side of their face looks different. You’re not certain what’s happening, but something is clearly wrong.
It might be a stroke. And if it is, the next few minutes matter more than almost anything else.
Every minute a stroke goes untreated, nearly 2 million brain cells die. That’s why knowing what to look for – and what to do – can make all the difference.
Calling 911 can help you save precious time when someone is having a stroke, and being able to recognize those signs helps. Learn more about stroke care and our emergency care services so you can be prepared in the event you have to act quickly.
How to recognize a stroke using BE FAST
“Recognizing the signs of a stroke is critical but can be difficult to determine,” says Islam Tafish, MD, an interventional neurosurgeon in our Lima market. “However, anyone having a stroke or witnessing a friend or family member having symptoms of a stroke should call 911 for EMS response immediately.”
Stroke symptoms come on suddenly. They may look different depending on the person and the type of stroke. But the quickest way to check for signs is a tool called BE FAST:
- B – Balance. Is the person suddenly unsteady, stumbling or having trouble walking?
- E – Eyes. Did their vision suddenly change? Are they seeing double or have they lost sight in one or both eyes?
- F – Face. Ask them to smile. Does one side droop? Is part of the face numb?
- A – Arms. Ask them to raise both arms. Does one drift down or feel weak?
- S – Speech. Ask them to repeat a simple sentence, like “The sky is blue.” Is speech slurred or hard to understand?
- T – Time. If you notice any one of these signs, call 911 immediately. Note the time symptoms began.
Other warning signs include a sudden, severe headache with no clear cause, confusion, numbness on one side of the body or trouble swallowing.
You don’t need to see all of these signs. Even one is enough to act.
Should I call 911 or just drive to the hospital?
If you notice stroke symptoms, call 911.
It may feel faster to jump in the car. But emergency medicine doctors strongly advise against it. Stroke symptoms can worsen on the way. If someone loses consciousness or stops breathing in your car, there’s nothing you can do.
EMS responders can start treatment the moment they arrive. When EMS is called, the emergency team gets to work right away. They assess the patient, check vital signs, stabilize them and can alert the hospital before the patient even arrives.
“St. Rita’s works closely with all area fire and EMS partners in the care of stroke patients,” says Brian Anderson, BS, NRP, CMTE, EMS coordinator at Mercy Health – St. Rita’s Medical Center. “If EMS is called and suspects a stroke, not only can they start important patient assessment, but they can also activate a STROKE ALERT at St. Rita’s, which activates our stroke team and response prior to the patient even getting to the hospital. This process can help to save vital time-to-treatment of the stroke patient, thereby saving neurons and brain tissue.”
That stroke alert is critical. When EMS calls ahead, the stroke team is ready and waiting when the patient walks through the door – cutting down the time before treatment begins.
What to tell the 911 operator
Stay calm and share the essentials:
- Your location (address or nearest landmark, especially if you’re in a public place)
- That you suspect a stroke and which symptoms you’re seeing
- The time when symptoms first appeared
Don’t wait to gather more information. Keep it short and let the operator ask follow-up questions.
If you’re unsure whether what you’re seeing is a stroke, call anyway. First responders and doctors would always rather respond to a false alarm than have someone delay calling because they “didn’t want to overreact.”
What to do while you wait for EMS to arrive
After you call 911, stay on the line with the operator. They can guide you in real time. In the meantime, here are the most important steps:
- Stay with the person: Don’t leave them alone.
- Help them lie or sit down: If they’re conscious, have them sit or lie with their head and shoulders slightly raised. If unconscious, place them on their side and keep the airway clear.
- Note the time: When did symptoms begin? This is critical information for the medical team, because certain treatments must be given within a specific time window.
- Keep them calm and still: Reassure them that help is on the way. Avoid unnecessary movement.
Do not give them anything to eat or drink. Stroke can affect the ability to swallow safely. Also avoid giving them medicine, even aspirin. Not all strokes are caused by clots – some involve bleeding in the brain, and aspirin could make that type of stroke more dangerous.
What if the symptoms go away? It could still be a medical emergency
Sometimes stroke-like symptoms appear and then resolve within minutes. This is called a transient ischemic attack, or TIA – sometimes referred to as a “mini-stroke.”
But don’t let the word “mini” mislead you. A TIA is a serious warning sign. Some people who experience a TIA will have a full stroke in the hours or weeks after.
The symptoms of a TIA are the same as a stroke. The only difference is that they tend to resolve on their own. But you cannot tell if you’re witnessing a TIA or a stroke. Neither can the person experiencing it. Only a medical evaluation can tell the difference.
If any symptoms appear, call 911 – even if they go away by the time help arrives. The emergency department can run tests to find out what happened and take steps to prevent a future stroke.
How we can help
If you call 911 for a stroke, EMS partners are trained to direct patients to the appropriate hospital based on the level of care needed. That’s important, because not all hospitals provide the same level of stroke care.
Mercy Health – St. Rita’s Medical Center in Lima is the region’s only DNV-certified Comprehensive Stroke Center — the highest level of stroke certification available. Comprehensive Stroke Centers are equipped to treat all types of stroke and stroke-related complications.
St. Rita’s has also received the American Heart Association’s Get With The Guidelines® – Stroke Gold Plus quality achievement award for meeting the highest standards for stroke treatment. The hospital also earned AHA’s Target: Stroke Honor Roll Elite award for reducing the time between a patient’s arrival and treatment.
St. Rita’s offers the full spectrum of stroke care: rapid diagnosis, emergency treatment, rehabilitation and education – all available for Lima-area residents.
Learn more about emergency care and stroke care services we offer at Mercy Health.
