Stroke signs went away: should you still call 911?
Yes. If someone has sudden signs of stroke, call 911 immediately, even if those signs fade. Heart & Stroke explains that signs of a transient ischemic attack (TIA) may last only minutes; improvement does not tell a bystander that the danger has passed. Heart & Stroke: FAST signs and TIA
What happened at the breakfast table?
Imagine someone suddenly struggles to speak clearly, then seems to return to normal. It is tempting to wait and see. But neither the brief duration nor the apparent recovery rules out a serious event. You cannot diagnose a TIA or stroke at home. Make the emergency call while the information is fresh, and tell the dispatcher what you observed.
Which changes matter?
Heart & Stroke's FAST reminder points to changes in the face, arms and speech, and to time to call 911. Not everyone has every sign. The organization also describes less common signs such as sudden vision changes, a severe sudden headache, numbness (often on one side) and balance problems. These are reasons to take a sudden change seriously, not a checklist that lets you rule stroke out. Heart & Stroke: other signs
If the signs change while you wait
At a glance What you notice What to do A sudden FAST sign Call 911 immediately. The sign improves or disappears Do not cancel the emergency call; tell the dispatcher what happened. More than one sign, or a different sudden change Tell the dispatcher what you saw and when it started.
What information can help?
If you know when the signs first appeared, share that time with the dispatcher and medical team. Heart & Stroke says the exact onset time can help clinicians decide on care. If you are unsure, say so rather than guessing. Follow the emergency team's directions; this article cannot decide which treatment a person needs. Heart & Stroke: what to expect
After an emergency, CPR Level C training in Montreal is one general way to practise emergency-response skills. It is not a stroke-diagnosis or stroke-treatment course. For a different heart emergency, see heart attack versus cardiac arrest.