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Civilian Emergency Platform
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.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — NOT EXPERT REVIEWED — NOT FOR PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
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.
Scene hazards: Falls, Choking if given food, Aspiration
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.
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 — 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.
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.
MYTH: DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Stroke only happens to old people
REALITY: DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Stroke can happen at any age. Sudden one-sided weakness in anyone is stroke until proven otherwise.
DANGER: DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Young patients with stroke symptoms are misdiagnosed or delayed.
MYTH: DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Symptoms must last a long time to be a stroke
REALITY: DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Transient symptoms that resolve can still be a warning stroke (TIA). All sudden weakness needs immediate evaluation.
DANGER: DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — People ignore brief symptoms that resolve and then have a major stroke.
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.