Stroke is the fourth-leading cause of death in the U.S. and a primary cause of long-term preventable disability. Yet, studies show that Americans do not rank stroke as a leading health concern. As EMS and healthcare professionals, you are the front line of the fight against stroke. We need your help to educate those around you during American Stroke Month and beyond. How will you spread the word? Here are some ideas and resources to get you started teaching people about F.A.S.T. (Face drooping, Arm weakness, Speech difficulty, Time to call 9-1-1)

1. American Stroke Month
EMS and Healthcare Professional Activation
Thank you for helping us end stroke!
Stroke is the fourth-leading cause of death in the U.S. and a primary cause of long-term preventable disability. Yet,
studies show that Americans do not rank stroke as a leading health concern. As EMS and healthcare
professionals, you are the front line of the fight against stroke. We need your help to educate those around you
during American Stroke Month and beyond.
How will you spread the word? Here are some ideas and resources to get you started teaching people about
F.A.S.T. (Face drooping, Arm weakness, Speech difficulty, Time to call 9-1-1):
 For Healthcare Professionals: Help People Learn About F.A.S.T.
o Loop the F.A.S.T. public service announcement videos in your waiting rooms. Add them to your
hospital or organization’s website.
o Teach the warning signs with the F.A.S.T. Flyer. Include it in your hospital’s patient discharge
packet, distribute it to stroke support groups, offer it in patient rooms, post it to bulletin boards
at hospitals and hand out at health fairs.
o Download F.A.S.T. email and e-newsletter templates for your hospital’s distribution channels.
o Distribute F.A.S.T. pad tear-off sheets to patients when they are discharged and to others during
community outreach and education sessions.
o Encourage hospital staff to download the F.A.S.T. mobile app and share it with their patients.
Also consider including links on your hospital’s websites and newsletters.
o Host a F.A.S.T. Community Event. Share the F.A.S.T. community presentation at a hospital
“Lunch and Learn” educational event for patients, consumers or staff. Encourage hospitals in
your area to host a training session for emergency responders on F.A.S.T. using the F.A.S.T.
community presentation.
o Distribute the F.A.S.T. Coloring Sheet to the pediatric unit of your hospital. Make it available in
hospital waiting rooms for children, then spruce up the hallways by posting their artwork.
 For EMS Professionals: Help People Learn About F.A.S.T.
o Host a F.A.S.T. community event. Share the F.A.S.T. community presentation at schools, summer
camps and EMS organizational events. Show F.A.S.T. public service announcement videos during
the presentation. Encourage attendees to download the F.A.S.T. mobile app. Bring the F.A.S.T.
Coloring Sheet with you to schools, summer camps and other events that children frequent.
o Teach stroke warning signs with the F.A.S.T. Flyer. Share the information with your EMS
organizations.
o Share email and e-newsletter templates on F.A.S.T. with your EMS organizations.
o Ask your EMS organization to post the F.A.S.T. mobile app on its website and social media sites.
 Go Viral During American Stroke Month. Encourage your social media followers to build stroke
awareness and learn stroke warning signs and symptoms with the ASA’s F.A.S.T. Social Media Guide.
 Spread Stroke Awareness While You Work. For just $5, purchase the Stroke Solidarity String which
symbolizes unity in the world’s fight against stroke.