An 89-year-old female cannot move her right arm and leg and has right-sided numbness. What is your first action?

In this scenario, the patient displays signs consistent with a possible stroke, indicated by her inability to move her right arm and leg and the numbness on her right side. The first action to take in such a case is to determine when she was last known to be normal. This information is critical because it helps medical professionals understand the time window for treatment options, particularly the administration of thrombolytics or other interventions that can significantly impact the outcome for stroke patients.

The time from the onset of symptoms to medical treatment is crucial in managing strokes effectively. If the onset of her symptoms occurred within a specific timeframe, certain treatments may be available that can minimize the damage to the brain and improve recovery outcomes.

Other options, while important in different contexts, do not address the immediate need to assess the timing of her symptoms, which is essential for her potential treatment. Administering glucose is typically reserved for hypoglycemia; providing oxygen is a supportive measure but does not directly assess or address the potential stroke. Thus, establishing the last known normal time is the most appropriate first step in this situation.