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American Heart Association logoAmerican Stroke Association

World Stroke Day is October 29

Knowledge is power. Join us in raising awareness of stroke, its symptoms and prevention.

a middle-aged woman and man smiling

By learning and sharing the
F.A.S.T. warning signs, you just
might save a life from stroke.

Strokes can happen to anyone, at any age. In fact, globally about one in four adults over the age of 25 will have a stroke in their lifetime. Yet, most adults in the U.S. don’t know the F.A.S.T. warning signs of a stroke, and that stroke is largely preventable, treatable and beatable. Our power is knowledge and how we apply that knowledge starting today to defeat stroke.

Stroke is an EMERGENCY. Call 911 if these signs are present.

Hover—or click if you’re on your mobile—on the F.A.S.T. tiles below.

Letter F
[F = FACE DROOPING] Does one side of the face droop, or is it numb? Ask the person to smile. Is the person's smile uneven?
letter A
[A = ARM WEAKNESS] Is one arm weak or numb? Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one arm drift downward?
letter S
[S = SPEECH] Is speech slurred? Is the person unable to speak or hard to understand? Ask the person to repeat a simple sentence, like "The sky is blue."
Letter t
[T = TIME TO CALL 911] If you have any of these symptoms or see someone else having them, call 911 immediately!

More Stroke Symptoms

Watch for sudden:

  • NUMBNESS or weakness of face, arm, or leg, especially on one side of the body
  • CONFUSION, trouble speaking or understanding speech
  • TROUBLE SEEING in one or both eyes
  • TROUBLE WALKING, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination
  • SEVERE HEADACHE with no known cause

Resources

F.A.S.T. infographic

F.A.S.T. Infographic
F.A.S.T. infografía

F.A.S.T. Infografía
5 Key Facts About Stroke infographic

5 Key Facts About Stroke
5 Hechos Clave Sobre el Ataque Cerebral infografía

5 Hechos Clave Sobre el Ataque Cerebral
What to do instead of having another stroke

What to Do Instead of Having Another Stroke (PDF)
I AM Determined to Prevent Another Stroke infographic

I AM Determined to Prevent Another Stroke Infographic

F.A.S.T. Videos

F.A.S.T. Song - Stroke Signs: featuring Dee-1 & Tha Hip Hop Doc

Trate el Ataque o Derrame Cerebral F.A.S.T.

Treat a Stroke F.A.S.T.


HCA Healthcare Foundation logoThe HCA Healthcare Foundation is proud to be a national supporter of the American Stroke Association’s Together to End Stroke®.