If someone faints:
- Lay them down.
- Kneel by them.
- Raise their legs.
- Give them fresh air and monitor them.
- If slow to recover, treat as unresponsive.
What is fainting and what causes it?
Fainting is when someone briefly becomes unresponsive, often causing them to fall to the ground. It happens because for a moment, there is not enough blood flowing to the brain.
People often faint as a reaction to pain, exhaustion, hunger, thirst, or emotional stress. It is also common for people to faint after they have been standing or sitting still for a long period of time and move too quickly, especially if they’re feeling hot.
Signs and symptoms
What to look for:
- a brief loss of response, often causing them to fall to the ground
- slow pulse
- pale, cold skin and sweating
- feeling hot or cold
- dizziness
- feeling unwell
What to do
-
Advise them to lie down
-
If possible, elevate their legs slightly using a stool, cushions or pillows. Make sure they get plenty of fresh air and ask other people to stand back
-
Reassure them and help them to sit up slowly over a few minutes, when they feel better
-
If they stay unresponsive, open their airway, check their breathing and prepare to treat someone who is unresponsive
How to do the primary survey
Use the primary survey to quickly assess the situation and check the casualty for injuries or conditions that could be immediately life threatening. Find out what to do.
