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If someone needs immediate help with sudden paralysis, use emergency mode.
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DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — A person has suddenly lost strength on one side — drooping face, weak arm or leg, or cannot move one side of the body.
The essentials if you need to act right now.
Call 112 now. Suspected stroke. Note the time. Stay with them.
What might I see? Observable signs — no diagnosis required.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Face drooping on one side — ask them to smile.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Arm weakness — one arm drifts down when they try to raise both.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Speech slurred or they cannot speak at all.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Sudden severe headache, vision loss, or loss of balance.
Optional deeper explanation — not required to act.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Sudden one-sided weakness is the most common sign of stroke — a blocked or burst blood vessel in the brain. Treatment works best within the first few hours.
Check the scene before you approach.
Civilian-safe actions you can take.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Call 112. Say: "Suspected stroke. Symptoms started at [exact time]."
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Write down the time symptoms started — this determines hospital treatment.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Help them into a comfortable, safe position — sitting upright or lying on their side if drowsy.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Do NOT give food, drink, or aspirin — choking and bleeding risks.
When and how to get professional help.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Do not diagnose. Time of onset is critical for hospital treatment — write down when symptoms started.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Call 112. Say: "Stroke suspected. Face droop / arm weak / speech slurred. Started at [time]."
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Stroke is always a hospital emergency. Every minute of delay destroys more brain tissue.
Dangerous actions, when not to attempt rescue, and common myths.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Do NOT wait to see if symptoms improve — call 112 immediately.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Do NOT drive them to hospital yourself unless ambulance is unavailable — time and treatment en route matter.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Do NOT give blood thinners, aspirin, or home remedies.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Stroke only happens to old people
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Stroke can happen at any age. Sudden one-sided weakness in anyone is stroke until proven otherwise.
Other scenarios in the same family.
Febrile seizure
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — A young child with fever is having a seizure — shaking, stiff, or staring blankly and not responding.
Meningitis signs
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Someone has fever with severe headache, stiff neck, confusion, rash that does not fade when pressed, or extreme sensitivity to light.
Active seizure
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — A person is shaking uncontrollably, stiff, or having convulsions and is not responding to you.
Seizure wont stop
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — A person has been seizing continuously for more than 5 minutes, or has one seizure after another without waking up.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — If they vomit — roll onto their side to prevent choking.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Stay calm and reassure them. Watch breathing until ambulance arrives.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Young patients with stroke symptoms are misdiagnosed or delayed.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Symptoms must last a long time to be a stroke
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Transient symptoms that resolve can still be a warning stroke (TIA). All sudden weakness needs immediate evaluation.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — People ignore brief symptoms that resolve and then have a major stroke.