Would you be able to tell if you, a friend, family member or stranger was experiencing a stroke?
The Stroke Foundation recommends using the F.A.S.T test which is an easy way to remember the most common signs of strokes.
The test involves asking these simple questions:
-Face: Check their face. Has their mouth drooped?
-Arms: Can they lift both arms?
-Speech: Is their speech slurred? Do they understand you?
-Time: Is critical. If you see any of these signs, call triple-0 straight away.
Facial weakness, arm weakness and difficulty with speech are the most common symptoms or signs of a stroke.
Other signs include dizziness, loss of vision, headache and difficulty swallowing.
Sometimes the signs disappear within a short time, such as a few minutes. When this happens, it may be a transient ischaemic attack (TIA). After a TIA, your risk of stroke is higher. Stroke can lead to death or disability. A TIA is a warning that you may have a stroke and an opportunity to prevent this from happening.
If you or someone else experiences the signs of stroke, no matter how long they last, call 000 immediately.
