West Valley City Fire Department promotes FAST method for stroke awareness in May

Under the bright lights of West Valley City’s community center, a sense of urgency filled the air as Tommy Lloyd, a critical care paramedic with the West Valley City Fire Department, addressed a gathering of residents. With May approaching, he emphasized the importance of Stroke Awareness Month, a time dedicated to educating the public about the signs of a stroke and the critical need for swift action.

Lloyd introduced a simple yet powerful acronym to help people remember the key signs of a stroke: FAST. “F stands for facial droop,” he explained, encouraging attendees to ask someone to smile and observe if one side of the face droops. “A is for arm,” he continued, suggesting that individuals hold their arms out in front of them to check for weakness. The next letter, S, represents speech; slurred speech can be a telltale sign of a stroke, and Lloyd urged everyone to have the person repeat a simple phrase. Finally, T stands for timing—emphasizing the importance of calling 911 immediately if any of these symptoms are present.

The message was clear: recognizing these signs and acting quickly can save lives. As the meeting concluded, the community left with a renewed sense of awareness and responsibility, ready to spread the word about stroke prevention and the critical importance of timely medical intervention.