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First aid · Australia

Stroke

Use FAST for sudden Face, Arm or Speech changes. Call 000 for an ambulance immediately, even if the signs improve, and record when they started or when the person was last known well.

Medical emergency? Call 000

What to do

  1. Recognise the signs

    Check for facial drooping, arm weakness or speech difficulty using FAST.

  2. Call 000 immediately

    Call 000 immediately if any sign is present, or if sudden vision, balance, severe headache, confusion or other neurological symptoms are concerning.

    Take care. Do not wait to see if stroke-like signs improve.

    Take care. Do not drive the person yourself when an ambulance is available.

  3. Record the time

    Record the exact symptom start time, or the last time the person was known to be well.

  4. Keep comfortable and monitor

    Keep the person comfortable, reassure them and monitor response and breathing while waiting.

    Take care. Do not give food, drink or medication unless the 000 call-taker or a health professional instructs you.

  5. If unresponsive: check breathing

    If they become unresponsive and are not breathing normally, start CPR and follow the 000 call-taker.

Know when to act

When to get help

  • Any FAST sign or sudden weakness, numbness, vision change, severe headache, dizziness, loss of balance, confusion or reduced consciousness requires an ambulance call to 000.

Children and babies

  • FAST can be used for sudden neurological changes in a child. Call 000 for sudden facial or limb weakness, speech or vision changes, severe headache, confusion, collapse or reduced consciousness and follow the call-taker.

Keep checking

  • Keep checking response and breathing. If unconscious but breathing normally, place the person on their side and keep the airway clear.

What you may notice

  • One side of the face may droop when the person smiles.
  • One arm may be weak or drift down when both arms are raised.
  • Speech may be slurred, confused or difficult to understand; sudden vision, balance, numbness, severe headache or confusion can also occur.
  • The signs may be brief or may improve, but that does not make them safe to ignore.

When help arrives

  • Keep the person comfortable, monitor response and breathing and stay with them until the ambulance arrives.
  • Tell the call-taker the exact time symptoms started, the last time the person was known to be well and how long any signs lasted.
  • If symptoms resolve, still follow the 000 pathway because a TIA can be a warning sign.

Other useful answers

What does FAST mean?

Face, Arms, Speech and Time. Ask the person to smile, raise both arms and repeat a phrase; call 000 immediately if a sign is present.

What if the symptoms go away?

Still call 000. Brief stroke-like symptoms may be a TIA warning and need urgent assessment.

Sources and last update

Content updated: August 2026.

These sources inform the guidance. This independent resource is not a substitute for a first aid course or medical assessment. An editorial update is not independent clinical review. Source organisations have not endorsed this site.

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