Q. My father recently suffered a stroke. He woke up feeling funny and thought he slept on his arm wrong. Luckily, my mother is a nurse and knew to call 911. He’s doing well now, but it got me thinking, do most people know the signs of a stroke?

A. I’m so glad to hear your father got the care he needed and is on the mend. As a nurse, your mother knew what to look for and the importance of acting fast. When someone is having a stroke, the sooner they can get care, the better. Calling 911 gives first responders the chance to start treatment before getting to the hospital.

Not everyone knows what a stroke looks like. A simple way to remember what to look for is to follow the acronym B.E. F.A.S.T.

B = Balance Loss: Is there a sudden loss of balance or coordination? Is the person feeling dizzy?
E = Eye (Vision) Changes: Ask the person if they are experiencing blurred vision, double vision, or loss of sight in one or both eyes.
F = Face Drooping: Does one side of the face droop, or is it numb? Ask the person to smile. Is the person’s smile uneven?
A = Arm Weakness: Is one arm weak or numb? Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one arm drift downward?
S = Speech Difficulty: Is speech slurred or difficult to understand? Ask the person to repeat a simple sentence.
T = Time to Call 911: If you have any of these symptoms or see someone else having them, call 911.

May is Stroke Awareness Month, and AgeSpan is teaming up with the Greater Lawrence Family Health Center to raise awareness in our region. We’re making sure neighbors, caregivers, and families know what to look for by sharing B.E. F.A.S.T. information through Meals on Wheels deliveries and home care visits. We’ll also have bilingual community outreach and health care workers on hand at Mobile Markets hosted by both organizations this month. These events will feature information, games, and prizes to help participants learn the signs.

Stroke symptoms can be easy to miss, but trusting your instincts and acting fast can make all the difference. When in doubt, it’s always better to make the call.

Are you caring for an older adult or need help finding healthy aging resources? Our experienced staff is available to help. Visit us online at www.agespan.org. You can also call 800-892-0890 or email info@agespan.org. 

Joan Hatem-Roy is the chief executive officer of AgeSpan, which serves the following cities and towns: Amesbury, Andover, Billerica, Boxford, Chelmsford, Danvers, Dracut, Dunstable, Georgetown, Groveland, Haverhill, Lawrence, Lowell, Marblehead, Merrimac, Methuen, Middleton, Newbury, Newburyport, North Andover, Peabody, Rowley, Salisbury, Salem, Tewksbury, Tyngsboro, Westford, and West Newbury.