Doctors say a bystander can recognize a stroke by asking three simple questions to the victim:

1. S *Ask the individual to smile.

2. T *Ask the person to Talk, to Speak a simple sentence.
(Coherently) (i.e. . . It is sunny out today?

3. R *Ask him or her to Raise both arms.

NOTE: Another ’sign’ of a stroke is this: Ask the person to ’stick’ out their tongue. If the tongue is ‘crooked’, if it goes to one side or the other, that is also an indication of a stroke.

If he or she has trouble with any one of these tasks, call for help immediately and describe the symptoms to the dispatcher.

Remember, Time lost is brain lost

Further Reading:

• http://www.strokeassociation.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=1020
• http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=52795
• http://www.strokeawareness.org/TOPIC/recognizing.htm
• Download and print this educational .pdf to learn the warning signs and teach others. More