Calling 999 will ensure Jimmy receives urgent medical attention as he may be having a stroke and might benefit from treatment with thrombolysis and/or thrombectomy.
The paramedic uses the FAST tool to help identify patients with stroke. The paramedics also pre-alert the receiving hospital to expect a case of suspected stroke.
For more detailed information visit: FAST Tool: Chest, Heart & Stroke Scotland
How to do the FAST test
Facial movements:
- Ask patient to show teeth, is there an unequal smile or grimace?
- Note which side does not move well
Arm movements:
- Lift the patient’s arms together to 90º if sitting, 45º if supine and ask them to hold the position for 5 seconds before letting go, does one arm drift down or fall rapidly?
- If one arm drifts down or falls, note whether it is the patient’s left or right
Speech:
- Listen for new disturbance of speech
- Listen for slurred speech, get patient to say “British Constitution or Baby Hippopotamus”
- Listen for word-finding difficulties with hesitations. This can be confirmed by asking the patient to name objects that may be nearby such as a cup, chair, table, keys, pen
- Check with any person who knows the patient, is this normal for them?
