What is the appropriate action for a suspected stroke patient?

The appropriate action for a suspected stroke patient is to perform the FAST assessment. The FAST acronym stands for Face drooping, Arm weakness, Speech difficulties, and Time to call emergency services. This assessment helps in quickly identifying the signs of a stroke, which is crucial because prompt treatment can significantly improve the patient's chances for recovery and reduce the risk of long-term disability.

Recognizing these symptoms early allows for timely intervention, which is vital when it comes to strokes. The phrase "Time is brain" emphasizes the importance of swift treatment within a narrow window of opportunity to restore blood flow to the brain and minimize damage caused by a stroke.

While keeping the patient calm and still is important in the overall management of the patient, the primary action should be focused on assessing for stroke symptoms using the FAST method first. Administering aspirin or performing CPR would not be appropriate actions: aspirin is contraindicated in certain types of strokes, particularly hemorrhagic strokes, and CPR is only indicated if the patient is unresponsive and without a pulse. Therefore, the FAST assessment stands out as the correct initial action in this scenario.