What does FAST stand for in recognizing a stroke?

• A. Face, Airway, Speech, Test
• B. Feet, Ankles, Stool, Touch
• C. Face, Ankle, Speed, Time
• D. Face, Arms, Speech, Time

Answer: (D)

The main idea here is using a quick, simple check to spot stroke symptoms and act fast. FAST stands for Face, Arms, Speech, Time. For Face, ask the person to smile and look for drooping on one side of the face. For Arms, have them stretch both arms out in front with palms up and watch if one arm drifts downward or can’t be lifted. For Speech, listen to a simple sentence—slurred speech or trouble speaking or understanding is a warning sign. For Time, if any of these signs are present, call emergency services immediately and note when the symptoms started, because treatment works best when given quickly. The other options mix in terms that aren’t part of the mnemonic (like Airway or Test) or replace words with unrelated ones, so they don’t convey the same clear, urgent signs.