CPR Stroke Recognition and Response 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A bystander notices a coworker's mouth drooping on one side while smiling. Which letter of the FAST acronym does this represent?
- Face (Correct answer)
- Arms
- Speech
- Time
Correct answer: Face
Facial drooping on one side corresponds to the 'F' (Face) in the FAST stroke-recognition acronym.
Question 2: When testing for arm weakness in a suspected stroke, what should you ask the person to do?
- Squeeze your hands tightly
- Raise both arms and hold them up (Correct answer)
- Wave one arm in the air
- Touch their nose with one finger
Correct answer: Raise both arms and hold them up
Asking the person to raise both arms reveals one-sided drift or weakness common in stroke.
Question 3: A person suddenly has trouble speaking and their words sound slurred. Which BE-FAST element is affected?
- Balance
- Eyes
- Speech (Correct answer)
- Time
Correct answer: Speech
Slurred or garbled words indicate a problem with Speech, the 'S' in FAST/BE-FAST.
Question 4: Why is the 'T' (Time) in FAST considered the most critical step?
- It reminds you to time how long symptoms last only
- It signals you to call 911 immediately because treatment is time-sensitive (Correct answer)
- It tells you to wait and watch for one hour
- It means you should drive the person yourself
Correct answer: It signals you to call 911 immediately because treatment is time-sensitive
Time stresses calling 911 right away because stroke treatments are most effective within a narrow window.
Question 5: The expanded BE-FAST acronym adds 'B' and 'E.' What do these letters stand for?
- Breathing and Energy
- Balance and Eyes (Correct answer)
- Blood and Edema
- Blackout and Ears
Correct answer: Balance and Eyes
BE-FAST adds Balance (sudden dizziness/loss of coordination) and Eyes (sudden vision changes).
Question 6: A person passes the smile test but cannot repeat the simple phrase 'The sky is blue.' What is the appropriate action?
- Ignore it since the face looks normal
- Call 911 because any FAST sign warrants emergency care (Correct answer)
- Give them water and wait
- Tell them to rest until speech improves
Correct answer: Call 911 because any FAST sign warrants emergency care
Any single positive FAST sign, such as speech difficulty, requires immediate emergency response.
Question 7: Approximately how often should a layperson rescuer perform the FAST check on a suspected stroke victim before help arrives?
- Continuously monitor and note symptom changes (Correct answer)
- Only once at the start
- Every 30 minutes
- Not at all after calling 911
Correct answer: Continuously monitor and note symptom changes
Continuously monitoring the person allows you to report symptom changes and timing to arriving responders.
CPR Stroke Recognition and Response 2
A bystander notices a coworker's mouth drooping on one side while smiling.
Which letter of the FAST acronym does this represent?