As I’ve written before, my Dad died of a stroke earlier this year. Believe me, there’s nothing worse than being woken up in the middle of the night (I just happened to be visiting my Mom for Mother’s Day), running downstairs half asleep, and trying to determine whether or not you should call an ambulance.

To help you recognise the symptoms of a stroke, the National Stoke Association recommends that you use the FAST test:

• FACE. Ask the person to give you a big smile and check to see if one side of their face is significantly lower than the other.
• ARMS. Ask them to raise both their arms and hold them up. Do they have difficultly with one arm? Does one arm seem to drift downward?
• SPEECH. Talk to them and ask them a question or ask them to repeat a simple sentence. Notice if their speech is slurred or if they have trouble repeating the sentence correctly.
• TIME. If you find that the person has apparent trouble controlling one side of their body as well as controlling their speech, don’t waste time. Call 911 and get them to medical help immediately.

Using the FAST test is a simple way of identifying the effects of a stroke. To the ones listed, I would add another: confusion. If the person seems dazed and confused to the point that they can’t answer your questions, get them to a hospital quick.

The National Stroke Association website has a lot of good information on stroke identification, prevention, and recovery. Be sure to sign up for their free StrokeSmart magazine while you’re there.

Remember, having the right information when you need it is critical. Make sure you know what to do if you get the call in the middle of the night from someone you love.

Hiram

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