The Stop a Stroke FAST message has three symptoms and a time component (Face drooping, Arm numbness or weakness, Speech difficulty or trouble understanding, and Time to call 911) in contrast with an earlier stroke awareness message with five categories of sudden
onset symptoms. The new message was developed to simplify stroke awareness, but its impact on enhancing the public’s ability to identify symptoms is unknown (Kleindorfer et al., 2007). Until further research is done, the AHA recommends incorporating Stop a Stroke FAST materials in stroke education efforts (Mochari-Greenberger et al., 2014)