Stroke identification can often be difficult for caregivers and family members when faced with a loved one who starts to develop acute symptoms. Often times, something is wrong, and no one is sure why. The American Heart Association (AHA) has for years been trying to bring awareness to the tell tale signs and symptoms of a stroke, and has recently moved to mobile to bring their message.

User Interface



Their app promulgates their pneumonic FAST (Face/Arm/Speech/Time), and gives details on what to look for in a patient. This includes questions to ask the patient, such as repeat a simple sentence like “the sky is blue.” The app also includes a quick rundown of signs and symptoms with a 30 second video built in.

The app also has other helpful resources built in, such as details on other stroke symptoms, facts, and nearby hospitals.

Perhaps the one defining feature is the built in mechanism for the user to call 911. Coupled with this built in feature is a mechanic to then timestamp via the app when the call was made. This is important for clinicians managing a stroke as it can help identify what treatments are viable, such as the administration of tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) within 3 hours of the onset of a stroke.

This feature alone makes this app a must have for family members of patient’s who are at high risk of stroke or have had one prior. Knowing exact time of onset can significantly change the type of treatment delivered for stroke.