What action should be taken immediately if a stroke is suspected?

When a stroke is suspected, the most critical and immediate action is to call emergency services, which in the UK is 999. This is vital because strokes are medical emergencies that require urgent intervention to minimize brain damage and improve the outcome. The sooner medical professionals arrive, the quicker proper treatment can be administered, such as the use of clot-busting medications or surgical interventions, depending on the type of stroke.

Prompt recognition and rapid response are crucial in stroke cases, as time is a significant factor in determining the extent of damage to the brain. Therefore, activating emergency services is the most important step, enabling trained medical personnel to take over.

Other options, while they may have their place in specific scenarios, do not take precedence in a suspected stroke situation. For instance, giving fluids or performing CPR is not appropriate unless there are further complications such as the person losing consciousness and not breathing, which is not specifically indicated in the context of a stroke. Similarly, while positioning the person can be important, it should not distract from the immediate need for professional medical assistance. Thus, calling 999 is the most appropriate response.