Only a fraction of stroke patients each year are getting to hospitals in time to receive a treatment that makes the difference between disability and full recovery. 

Thousands more people could benefit from the treatment–a drug called tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA)–but do not, often because they do not know the symptoms of stroke or do not get to the hospital within the drug's 3-hour window of effectiveness.

Because stroke injures the brain, the person having the stroke may not be able to recognize the symptoms and take action. An alert bystander can help a stroke patient get to the hospital quickly enough to receive treatments that can drastically reduce disability caused by stroke.

Stroke symptoms appear suddenly:

• Sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arm, or leg (especially on one side of the body);
• Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes;


Sudden confusion or trouble speaking or understanding speech;

Sudden trouble walking, dizziness, or loss of balance or coordination;

Sudden severe headache with no known cause.