The origin of this is from Feb. 2003 American Stroke Association's meeting: http://www.strokeassociation.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier= Which states that the symptoms of a "stroke" (cerebral vascular accident or transcient cerebrial ischemia) are: a.. Sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arm or leg, especially on one side of the body b.. Sudden confusion, trouble speaking or understanding c.. Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes d.. Sudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination e.. Sudden, severe headache with no known cause The importance of getting a person to a hospital within three hours is that TPA (Tissue plasminogen activator) is a drug which will help to break up a clot in a blood vessel. Also there are some ultra sound proceedures which will also help to open the blood vessel. There are many other serious conditions which may mimic a stroke. For example low blood sugar, diabetic problems, drug toxicity (including drunk), infections (mengitis or enchphalitis), hypertension, heavy metal poisoning, the state after a siezure, etc can give the same symptoms. Strokes can be occlusive--where there is a blood clot in an artery, or hemorragic where there is a burst blood vessel or aneurysm. Care of a stroke victium is supportive, since you do not have the ability to diagnose the cause of the problem in the field. What you might give for an occlusive condition would worsen a hemorragic condition. So keep warm and dry, moniter blood pressure, pulse and respiration, paying attention to airway obstruction. Unfortunately there is little which one can do when on a passage and a person has a CVA. Bob Austin