Strokes can be scary and can happen to anyone, but if you are able to recognize the signs and get help quickly your chances of making a full recovery are greatly improved.  Take the time to learn FAST. FAST is an easy way to remember and identify the most common symptoms of a stroke.

• F stands for FACE: Ask the person to smile. Does one side of the face droop? photo of smiling man
• A stands for ARMS: Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one arm drift downward? photo of raised arm
• S stands for SPEECH: Ask the person to repeat a simple phrase. Is their speech slurred or strange? photo of a woman speaking
• T stands for TIME: If you observe any of these signs, call 9-1-1 immediately.

According to the NFPA, 59% of home fire fatalities occur in houses that have no working smoke detectors. A properly installed and tested home fire alarm with a fresh battery is one of the simplest and most effective things you can do to protect yourself and your family from a home fire. Be sure to change your batteries at least once a year or when the smoke detector begins to chirp to signal a low battery.