A 70-year-old woman rings 999 after her husband suddenly develops a facial droop, arm weakness and slurred speech. What is the correct advice?
Answer and explanation
Correct answer: D. Call an ambulance and note the time the symptoms began
- Step 1: These are FAST-positive symptoms.
- Step 2: Suspected stroke is a time-critical emergency needing 999 and a hyperacute stroke unit.
Answer
Call an ambulance and note the time the symptoms began.
Why not the others: Use the NHS 111 online form and wait for a callback: 111 online is for non-emergencies. Wait for symptoms to resolve before seeking help: Waiting wastes treatment time and may be a TIA with high risk. Book a GP appointment for the next available day: A routine appointment delays thrombolysis.
Practise more Poisoning, environmental and community pathways.
Free questions with an explanation for every one, and full timed PLAB 1 (GMC, international medical graduates) mock tests.
More Poisoning, environmental and community pathways questions
- A 22-year-old has hypoglycaemia with a capillary glucose of 1.8 mmol/L and is unresponsive, with no intravenous access. Which treatment is a…
- A man is seen by the first ambulance crew at a major incident. Which standard message format do they send to declare it to control?
- A 3-year-old is rushed to a minor injuries unit with a button battery lodged in the oesophagus after swallowing. What is the priority?
- A hiker is found with a core temperature of 28 degrees Celsius, is unconscious but has a pulse. What is the correct approach?
- A 17-year-old is brought in having ingested an unknown quantity of aspirin tablets. He has tinnitus and hyperventilation. Which blood gas pa…
- A 35-year-old man falls from a ladder, and is complaining of neck pain with midline tenderness. What is the correct initial management?