The Prehospital Stroke Scale
(PSS) is a patient assessment tool to identify signs and symptoms of stroke (asymmetric
facial weakness, upper extremity weakness, and/or any abnormalities of speech
or language), as well as the time elapsed from onset of patient symptoms to arrival
of EMS on-scene.
Stroke Symptoms:
Facial Droop (The patient shows teeth or smiles).
Normal: Both sides of face move equally.
Abnormal: Right side of face does not move as well as the left.
Abnormal: Left side of face does not move as well as the right.
Arm Drift (The patient closes their eyes and extends both arms straight out for
10 seconds).
Normal: Both arms move the same, or both arms do not move at all.
Abnormal: Right arm either does not move, or drifts down compared to the left.
Abnormal: Left arm either does not move, or drifts down compared to the right.
Speech (The patient repeats The sky is blue in New York City today.
Or other sentence).
Normal: The patient says the correct words with no slurring of words.
Abnormal: The patient slurs words, says the wrong words, or is unable to speak.
Time Elapsed (from onset of symptoms)
All providers are required to ask the patient, and/or bystanders/family members
the following question(s):
A. To bystanders/ family members: What time was ________ (the patient) last
seen (in his/her usual state of health) before he/she became weak, paralyzed or
unable to speak clearly?
B. To patients: When was the last time you remember being in your usual
state of health in other words, before you first noticed that you had become
weak, paralyzed or unable to speak clearly?
Also:
Onset
Progression
Preceding Symptoms(Headache)
Seizures
AMS
Paralysis
Pupils