Stroke Assessment (FAST)
Face, Arms, Speech, Time protocol
00:00
F - Face
Facial droop assessment
Ask patient to smile or show teeth. Look for:
- Facial droop on one side
- Uneven or lopsided smile
- Drooping eyelid or corner of mouth
A - Arms
Arm drift test
Ask patient to raise both arms for 10 seconds:
- One arm drifts downward
- Cannot raise one arm
- One arm falls when raised
S - Speech
Speech and language test
Ask patient to repeat a phrase or sentence:
- Slurred or garbled speech
- Wrong words or unable to speak
- Cannot understand or repeat
T - Time
Critical time information
8/13/2025, 5:28:09 PM
Stroke Risk Assessment
Low Risk
No FAST signs present
Face
?
Arms
?
Speech
?
FAST Protocol Guidelines
- Face: Ask patient to smile, look for facial droop or asymmetry
- Arms: Ask patient to raise both arms, watch for drift or weakness
- Speech: Ask patient to repeat a phrase, listen for slurred speech
- Time: Note exact time of symptom onset - critical for treatment decisions
- Any positive finding warrants immediate stroke protocol activation
- Consider BE-FAST (Balance, Eyes) for additional stroke signs