Think Fast KC

In stroke care, there’s fast. Then there’s Saint Luke’s Fast.

A stroke is a “brain attack.” Stroke happens when a blood vessel in your brain either becomes blocked by a clot (ischemic stroke) or ruptures (hemorrhagic stroke). As many as 32,000 brain cells die every second during a stroke—so you must act FAST.

Fastest stroke care in the region. On average, Saint Luke’s stroke experts restore blood flow to the brain 17 minutes faster than other hospitals, saving more than 32 million brain cells per patient.

Think FAST

Speed is the key to successfully treating stroke. It’s also the key to detecting stroke. Just remember FAST, and you could recognize these key signs to save someone’s life:

Face—Look for an uneven smile

Arm—Check if one arm is weak

Speech—Listen for slurred speech

Time—Call 911 right away

Some symptoms may pass after a short time, and not every stroke patient will experience all these symptoms. That’s why it’s important to call 911 right away and get the patient to the hospital.

On call 24/7. The Saint Luke’s stroke team helped more than 1,800 patients last year—that’s about one every 4.75 hours.

Who’s at risk?

Strokes can happen at any age, but they’re most common in older adults. You might be at risk if you have high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, or a history of smoking.