John, one of Maya’s employees, finds Maya in a chair unable to speak. John (who is trained in CPR and first aid) also notices that the right side of Maya’s face is drooping. He makes a mental note of the time, calls 911 and asks for an ambulance to come to the hotel ballroom immediately. Maya cannot hear the sirens, but when the emergency medical technicians arrive, she understands they are there for her. The EMTs quickly evaluate Maya. They perform a neurologic baseline. Then they check her airway, breathing, circulation, glucose, pulse oximetry and heart rhythm. They decide to transport her to Hitech Medical Center. Maya wants to protest — to say she has so much work to do — but the words that come out do not make any sense. She doesn’t understand what is happening or why she can’t move her right arm or leg.

Maya arrives in the emergency department of Hitech Medical Center. The clerk pulls up her electronic health record (EHR) and the nurse begins her assessment. Maya is not able to update her medical information because of her condition. The nurse calls for the ED physician, confers with him on Maya’s health status and the healthcare team springs into action.


  1. Internet Research: Maya’s employee, John, thinks she is having a stroke and uses the acronym F.A.S.T. to analyze Maya’s current status. Match the description from Maya’s story with each letter that would support what John was thinking.
      2. ____ “F”       A. John makes a mental note of the time, calls 911.
      ____ “A”       B. Maya is unable to speak.
      ____ “S”       C. Maya’s face is drooping.
      ____ “T”       D. Maya cannot move her right arm or leg.

  2. Internet Research: Which of the following would be a reason for Maya to be seen immediately in the ER?
    3. A. Her heart might stop beating.
    B. A stroke can effect memory or muscle control.
    C. Her brain cells could be deprived of oxygen and begin to die.
    D. Both B and C

  3. Internet Research: Which of the following causes atherosclerosis?
    4. A. High cholesterol levels
    B. Chemicals in cigarettes
    C. High blood pressure
    D. All the above

  4. Review the Video: Select all of the statements below that are TRUE.
    A. Brain cells begin to die hours after a stroke occurs.
    B. An ischemic stroke causes abnormal blood flow.
    C. Lack of blood flow causes tissues to be starved.
    D. An embolism is a blood clot formed in the brain.
    E. When an aneurysm bursts it results in serious damage to brain tissue.