The Colorado Stroke Advisory Board is determined to improve stroke care in the state, and is pleased to support stroke awareness efforts especially on World Stroke Day, October 29th. This year, the World Stroke Organization is promoting public awareness of the signs of stroke. The Colorado Stroke Advisory Board promotes the BE FAST Acronym to recognize the signs of stroke as two signs are indicative of a rare stroke type. Recognizing as many symptoms as you are able to will greatly help first responders and healthcare staff treat strokes more effectively.
Recognizing the early warning signs of stroke through BE FAST can and has saved lives and memories.
B | Balance Loss
E | Eyesight Changes
F | Face Drooping
A | Arm Weakness
S | Speech Difficulty
T | Time to Call 911
Is one side of the face drooping or numb? Is the smile uneven? Is one arm weak or numb? Does one arm drift down if both arms are raised? Is speech slurred, or is it hard to speak or understand simple sentences? If you or anyone you know has any of these symptoms, call 911 immediately.
Other Stroke Symptoms
● Numbness: weakness in the leg, arm, or face, especially if it’s only on one side
● Trouble Seeing: in one or both eyes
● Trouble Walking: dizziness and loss of balance
● Severe Headache: with no known cause
Less Common:
● Fatigue, Nausea, Vomiting
● Disorientation and Confusion
Visit the official World Stroke Day 2025 page here!
Read more about prevention below:
Colorado Stroke Advisory Board 