Signs of a stroke to know
The signs of a stroke come on suddenly: one side of the face drooping, one arm or leg weak or numb, and speech that is slurred or confused. Other sudden signs include trouble seeing, loss of balance, or a severe headache with no known cause. If you notice any of these, call your local emergency number, 911 in the US, right away and note the time symptoms started.
Why it matters: Recognizing a stroke quickly and calling right away saves brain function.
In an emergency, call your local emergency number, 911 in the US, first. Reading a page is not training: take a certified class and practice on a manikin.
Steps
- Look at the face: ask for a big smile and check whether one corner stays flat or droops.
- Check the arms: have them lift both arms out in front for ten seconds and see if one sinks.
- Check speech: ask them to say a short phrase, such as today is Tuesday, and listen for slurring or wrong words.
- Watch also for sudden trouble seeing, dizziness or loss of balance, and a sudden severe headache.
- Call your local emergency number, 911 in the US, straight away, even if signs fade.
- Note the time the symptoms started, or the last time they were seen well.
- Keep them comfortable and do not give food, drink or medicine.
- Take a certified first aid class to practice recognizing emergencies.
Stop and call a professional if
- any sign of a stroke, even one that goes away: call your local emergency number, 911 in the US, immediately
Common mistakes
- Waiting to see if symptoms pass.
- Putting the person in your own car rather than calling for an ambulance.
- Forgetting to note when it started.
Teach this to someone
A one page sheet for showing a friend, a teenager or a parent: what to say, what to show, and one question to check it landed.
Teach: Signs of a stroke to know
What to say
The signs of a stroke come on suddenly: one side of the face drooping, one arm or leg weak or numb, and speech that is slurred or confused. Other sudden signs include trouble seeing, loss of balance, or a severe headache with no known cause. If you notice any of these, call your local emergency number, 911 in the US, right away and note the time symptoms started.
What to show
- Look at the face: ask for a big smile and check whether one corner stays flat or droops.
- Check the arms: have them lift both arms out in front for ten seconds and see if one sinks.
- Check speech: ask them to say a short phrase, such as today is Tuesday, and listen for slurring or wrong words.
- Watch also for sudden trouble seeing, dizziness or loss of balance, and a sudden severe headache.
- Call your local emergency number, 911 in the US, straight away, even if signs fade.
- Note the time the symptoms started, or the last time they were seen well.
- Keep them comfortable and do not give food, drink or medicine.
- Take a certified first aid class to practice recognizing emergencies.
Where it stops
Stop and call a professional if any sign of a stroke, even one that goes away: call your local emergency number, 911 in the US, immediately.
Check question
Which is a sudden sign of stroke?
Answer: One side of the face drooping. Face drooping is one of the key sudden signs.
Your checklist
Saved only in this browser.
Quick quiz
Three questions. Your score is saved only in this browser.
Related skills
Sources
- US national first aid guidelines for lay responders, 2025. Reviewed September 28, 2026.
Written in our own words from the sources above. It is general information, not advice for your situation; where a professional, your doctor or your lease says something different, follow them.
Last reviewed . First published .