FAST (stroke) The instruments at this time with most evidence of validity were the Cincinnati Prehospital Stroke Scale (CPSS) and the Los Angeles Prehospital Stroke Screen (LAPSS). FAST (stroke) FAST is an acronym used as a mnemonic to help detect and enhance responsiveness to the needs of a person having a stroke. The acronym stands for Facial drooping, Arm weakness, Speech difficulties and Time to call emergency services. The FAST was developed in the UK in 1998 by a group of stroke physicians, ambulance personnel, and an emergency department physician and was designed to be an integral part of a training package
History of the District of Columbia Fire and Emergency Medical Services Department derailment and fire in a railway tunnel near Baltimore and just two weeks prior to the September 11 attacks, "The Washington Times" reported that internal documents showed DCFEMS "woefully unprepared" to handle a hazardous materials (or "haz-mat") spill or a biological, chemical or radiological attack. Firefighters and emergency medical personnel were not trained to recognize these hazards or contain them, and had not conducted training in the worst sort of haz-mat incident in more than two years. Few pledged in October 2001 to improve haz-mat response capability by staffing additional haz-mat vehicles with lesser-trained staff as an interim measure. He