Which of the following lists the FAST signs of a potential stroke?

• A. Fever, Abdominal pain, Shortness of breath, Time to eat.
• B. Facial droop, Arm weakness, Speech difficulties, Time of onset prompting immediate EMS activation.
• C. Facial numbness, Leg weakness, Headache, Onset.
• D. Dizziness, Confusion, Chest pain, Symptom duration.

Answer: (B)

Recognizing rapid, stroke-specific signs enables fast action and EMS activation. The FAST approach focuses on:

• Face: sudden drooping or uneven smile indicating facial weakness on one side.

• Arm: sudden weakness or drift when both arms are raised.

• Speech: sudden trouble speaking or understanding speech.

• Time: note the onset time and call emergency services immediately, because treatment options depend on how recently symptoms began.

These signs are quick to assess, easy to remember, and point directly to a potential stroke, prompting urgent evaluation and intervention. Other symptom groupings—fever with abdominal pain, shortness of breath, dizziness, confusion, or chest pain—do not align with the FAST stroke screen and may reflect different conditions, so they aren’t the best indicators for rapid stroke recognition.