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Civilian Emergency Platform
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Sudden weakness, face drooping, speech problems, or confusion — possible stroke requiring immediate emergency care.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — NOT EXPERT REVIEWED — NOT FOR PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Face — ask them to smile. One side of the face may droop.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Arms — ask them to raise both arms. One arm may drift down or feel weak.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Speech — ask them to repeat a simple sentence. Speech may be slurred or they cannot find words.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Time — note when symptoms started. Sudden severe headache, confusion, vision loss, or loss of balance are also warning signs.
Scene hazards: Fall risk, Traffic if collapsed outdoors
Do not move them unnecessarily unless they are in danger.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Do the quick face-arms-speech check if the person is awake.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Call 112 immediately — every minute counts.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Look at a clock and remember the exact time symptoms began.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Help them sit or lie on their side if they are vomiting or drooling.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Keep them calm and still. Do not leave them alone.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Unlock doors and gather their ID and medicine list if an ambulance is coming.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — If they lose consciousness and stop breathing — start CPR.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Call 112. Say: "I think someone is having a stroke. Their face is drooping / arm is weak / speech is slurred."
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Tell them the exact time symptoms started — this is critical for treatment decisions.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Stay on the line and follow operator instructions.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Suspected stroke is always an emergency. Clot-busting treatment may be possible only within a few hours of symptom start.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Even if symptoms partially improve, they need hospital evaluation immediately.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Do NOT give food, drink, or medicine by mouth — they may choke.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Do NOT drive them to hospital yourself if an ambulance can come — treatment starts in the ambulance.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Do NOT wait to see if symptoms improve — a "mini-stroke" can become a major stroke.
MYTH: DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Stroke only happens to old people
REALITY: DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Strokes can happen at any age. Sudden weakness or speech problems in a young person still need emergency care.
DANGER: DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Younger patients and bystanders dismiss symptoms and delay calling 112.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — A stroke happens when blood flow to part of the brain is blocked or a blood vessel bursts. Brain cells die every minute without treatment.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Fast treatment can limit brain damage. The hospital needs to know when symptoms started.