The National Stroke Association suggests memorizing these steps, dubbed "Act F.A.S.T." to determine whether someone might be having a stroke.
Face: Ask the person to smile. Does one side of the face droop?
Arms: Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one arm drift downward?
Speech: Ask the person to repeat a simple sentence. Are the words slurred? Can he or she repeat the sentence correctly?
Time: If the person shows any of these symptoms, call 911 or get to the hospital quickly. Time is important; brain cells are dying.
