(ARA) — When a stroke strikes, every minute counts in saving the person’s life. Speedy treatment depends on the person afflicted or someone near them recognizing the five signs that a stroke is occurring and getting emergency help fast. You can remember the five signs of stroke with these five words: walk, talk, reach, see and feel.

Stroke is the third-leading cause of death in the United States and a leading cause of disability. About 5.3 million Americans suffer from strokes annually, which means you or someone you care about could be affected.

Dr. Diana Fite, an emergency physician in Houston, experienced a stroke in 2006 while driving her car. She was 53 at the time. Thanks to her quick reaction and prompt medical attention, she made a full recovery.

“Because I am an emergency physician, I knew to call 911 to get help immediately, which is why I recovered quickly,” Fite says. “But I know from my experience as a doctor that too many people ignore stroke symptoms or wait for them to go away, with tragic results.”

Fite is the spokesperson for “Give Me 5 for Stroke: Walk, Talk, Reach, See, Feel,” a campaign aimed at educating Americans about the five warning signs of a stroke. The campaign is made up of three organizations: the American Academy of Neurology, the American College of Emergency Physicians and the American Stroke Association. By paying attention to how a person walks, talks, reaches, sees and feels, individuals and family members can recognize when a stroke is happening and react immediately.

“Walk” is to recognize if a person’s balance is off-kilter; “talk” identifies if a person’s speech is slurred or their face is droopy; “reach” points out if the person feels numb on one side; “see” pinpoints if the person has partially or completely lost their vision; and “feel” discovers if the person has a severe headache. If any of these stroke symptoms occur suddenly, call 911 immediately.

If you know the warning signs and get medical help right away, you have an excellent chance of making a good recovery.