Should you call emergency services for a suspected stroke or TIA?

Should You Call Emergency Services for Suspected Stroke or TIA?

Yes, you must immediately call 9-1-1 or your local emergency number for any suspected stroke or TIA, even if symptoms resolve. 1 This is a highest priority medical emergency equivalent to acute myocardial infarction, regardless of symptom severity. 2

Why Immediate Emergency Response is Critical

Time-Sensitive Treatment Window

• Thrombolytic therapy and mechanical thrombectomy are highly effective treatments but must be delivered within hours of symptom onset 1, 3
• The time you were last symptom-free (not when symptoms started) determines treatment eligibility 2
• Every minute of delay reduces treatment options and worsens outcomes 1

Extremely High Risk of Recurrent Stroke

• Without urgent intervention, stroke recurrence risk is 3.1% at 2 days and 5.2% at 7 days after a TIA 1
• Among high-risk patients, the 7-day stroke risk can reach 36% 1
• The greatest risk of recurrence occurs within the first 48 hours 1
• However, with rapid specialized care through emergency services, this risk can be reduced by 80% 4

Benefits of Using 9-1-1 vs. Self-Transport

Faster Access to Treatment

• EMS arrival at scene occurs within 3 minutes on average after calling 9-1-1 5
• Patients transported by ambulance receive brain imaging sooner than those who self-transport 1
• Advance notification by EMS shortens time to physician evaluation and reduces door-to-treatment times 1

Higher Triage Priority

• EMS ensures transport to the correct hospital with stroke unit capabilities 1
• Paramedics provide prehospital notification, allowing the stroke team to prepare before arrival 1
• Patients arriving by ambulance are triaged immediately to high-acuity areas 1

Critical Interventions En Route

• 19% of patients with stroke-like symptoms require paramedic-level interventions including airway management 5
• Paramedics can assess and stabilize airway, breathing, and circulation during transport 1

Recognizing Stroke: Use FAST

Public education emphasizes the FAST acronym to identify stroke symptoms 1:

• Face weakness or drooping
• Arm weakness or numbness
• Speech difficulty or slurred speech
• Time to call 9-1-1 immediately

These three symptoms (face, arm, speech) are present in 88% of all strokes and TIAs 1

Critical Information to Provide

When calling 9-1-1, be prepared to answer 1:

• Time last seen normal/symptom-free (most critical piece of information)
• Current location and visible stroke signs (face drooping, arm weakness, speech problems)
• Current medications, especially blood thinners
• Changes in condition since symptoms started
• Known medical problems
• Advance care directives if available

Common Pitfall: "Symptoms Resolved, So I'll Wait"

This is dangerous. Even if symptoms completely resolve, you must still call 9-1-1 immediately 1. TIA (transient symptoms) carries the same urgent stroke risk as ongoing symptoms and requires emergency evaluation within 24-48 hours to prevent a major disabling stroke 1.

What Happens After Calling 9-1-1

• Dispatcher provides priority response and pre-arrival instructions 1
• Paramedics use standardized stroke screening tools on scene 1
• Transport to hospital with stroke unit capabilities, not just the nearest facility 1
• Immediate ED evaluation with brain imaging (CT or MRI) within 24 hours 1, 2
• Urgent vascular imaging (CTA/MRA) to identify treatable causes 2, 3
• ECG and cardiac monitoring to detect atrial fibrillation 1, 2
• Rapid initiation of stroke prevention treatments to reduce recurrence risk 1