Assessment and prioritization
FAST
Face, Arms, Speech, Time
The public-facing checklist for recognizing signs of a stroke. An extended version, BE-FAST, adds Balance and Eyes at the front.
What each letter stands for
- 1 Face — drooping on one side.
- 2 Arms — one arm drifting downward when both are raised.
- 3 Speech — slurred or difficult speech.
- 4 Time — note the time signs began, because treatment decisions depend on it.
How it gets tested
The T is the tested letter. Items are written so that three options describe a physical sign and one describes noting the time, and the time is what the mnemonic is really for.
Related terms
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