Could You Spot the Signs of a Stroke?
In the United States, someone experiences a stroke every 40 seconds. Every four minutes, someone dies from one. These staggering statistics underscore a critical truth: when it comes to stroke, every second counts. Knowing the signs and acting quickly can mean the difference between life and long-term disability, or even survival. But do you truly know what to look for when a stroke strikes? Knowing stroke signs can be a lifesaving tool in your own hands.
What is a Stroke?
A stroke is a disease that affects the arteries leading to and within the brain. When a blood vessel that carries oxygen and nutrients to the brain is blocked by a clot or bursts (ruptures), a part of the brain cannot get the blood and oxygen it needs, so it and brain cells die, causing a stroke. There are three different types of strokes.
Ischemic Stroke: When a blood clot obstructs the flow of blood to the brain.
Hemorrhagic Stroke: When a blood vessel ruptures and prevents blood flow to the brain.
Transient ischemic attack (TIA): A “mini stroke” caused by a temporary clot.
Stroke is the fifth highest cause of death and a leading cause of disability in the United States. If a stroke occurs and blood flow cannot reach the region that controls a specific body part, that part won’t work as it should.
FAST Test
With strokes, it is important to act quickly to prevent long-term disability and even death. The FAST Acronym, F for “face weakness”, A for “arm weakness”, S for “speech problems”, and T for “time to call 911”, is a test to quickly identify the three most common signs of stroke. The acronym spells out “fast” because it is important to act as quickly as possible when noticing these signs.
F: Face weakness. Check if the person can smile. Is their mouth or eye drooping?
A: Arm weakness. Can the person raise both arms fully and keep them raised?
S: Speech Problems: How is the person speaking? Is their speech clear, and can they understand what you’re saying? Is their speech slurred?
T: Time to call 911. If you see any one of these signs, it’s time to call 911 immediately.
It’s also important to watch for sudden numbness, confusion, trouble seeing, trouble walking, dizziness, and severe headaches with no known cause. Up to 80% of strokes may be prevented, and knowing these signs and symptoms will help increase the amount prevented.
Advanced Stroke Life Support (ASLS) by ACLS Academy
The ACLS Academy, in partnership with the American Heart Association and the University of Miami’s Gordon Center for Simulation and Innovation in Medical Education, offers the Advanced Stroke Life Support (ASLS) course for healthcare professionals in both prehospital and in-hospital settings involved in the management of acute stroke patients. This course educates healthcare professionals to identify, evaluate, and manage patients with stroke.
This course is ideal for:
Stroke coordinators
Nursing students and Nurses
Advanced Practice Registered Nurses
Paramedics and Emergency Medical Personnel
Physicians
Physician Assistants
Residents and Fellows
Medical Students
Respiratory Therapists
Developed by experts in stroke, emergency medicine, prehospital care, and nursing education, the ASLS curriculum is now widely used by hundreds of hospitals, fire rescue, ambulance, and EMS systems, and educational institutions across the globe. This course is also designed to meet the staff education requirements for the premier certifications for stroke systems of care from the Joint Commission’s Advanced Certifications.
Advanced Stroke Life Support Course Content and Format
The ASLS course is a blended learning format, including an online, self-directed portion, followed by an in-person skills testing session with an ASLS-certified Instructor. There are three tracks available for students to learn how to assess and manage stroke emergencies:
Prehospital Provider Course: Highlights the principles of prehospital stroke management that make up the current standard of care, such as determining when to call a stroke alert and quickly transport the patient to the nearest appropriate facility. The course explains how to communicate the patient’s symptoms, time of onset, and neurologic exam clearly.
In-Hospital Provider Course: Focuses on the importance of an organized approach to treating stroke patients for improved outcomes. The course discusses the etiologic evaluation, which identifies the underlying cause of the stroke and is crucial for determining appropriate treatment and prevention strategies. Also covered is secondary stroke prevention for stroke patients, describing the management of goals for acute ischemic stroke, intracerebral hemorrhage, and subarachnoid hemorrhage, as well as coverage of post-acute care management, including supportive medical care, rehabilitation, and discharge planning for stroke patients.
Prehospital & In-Hospital Provider Course: This course track combines all of the components of the Prehospital and In-Hospital courses and is best suited for healthcare providers who work in both environments, as well as ASLS Instructor candidates who will be conducting the in-person skills testing for learners from both audiences.
ACLS Academy offers high-quality courses taught by practicing medical professionals, including ACLS, BLS, TNCC, ENPC, NRP, PALS, PALS Plus, PEARS, ACLS-EP, ASLS, Bloodborne Pathogen, HeartSaver CPR/AED, First Aid, and Instructor Courses. Browse our full course catalog and schedule.