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What is the first thing you should do if a person is unconscious?

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What is the first thing you should do if a person is unconscious?

If the person is unconscious but still breathing, put them into the recovery position with their head lower than their body and call an ambulance immediately. Continue watching the patient to ensure they don’t stop breathing and continue to breathe normally.

What is the first thing you should do if a person is unconscious and not breathing?

Learn first aid for someone who is unresponsive and not breathing

  1. Check breathing by tilting their head back and looking and feeling for breaths.
  2. Call 999 as soon as possible.
  3. Give chest compressions: push firmly downwards in the middle of the chest and then release.

How do you position someone who is unconscious?

To place someone in the recovery position:

  1. Kneel beside the person.
  2. Straighten their arms and legs.
  3. Fold the arm closest to you over their chest.
  4. Place the other arm at a right angle to their body.
  5. Get the leg closest to you and bend the knee.

What should you do if someone collapses?

If someone else faints

  1. Position the person on his or her back. If there are no injuries and the person is breathing, raise the person’s legs above heart level — about 12 inches (30 centimeters) — if possible.
  2. Check for breathing. If the person isn’t breathing, begin CPR.

How do you wake up someone who is unconscious?

Rescue breathing

  1. Tilt the person’s head back and lift their chin to open up the airway.
  2. Pinch the person’s nose closed and cover their mouth with a CPR face mask, creating an airtight seal.
  3. Give two 1-second breaths and watch for their chest to rise.

What are the signs of unconsciousness?

The following symptoms may occur after a person has been unconscious:

  • Amnesia for (not remembering) events before, during, and even after the period of unconsciousness.
  • Confusion.
  • Drowsiness.
  • Headache.
  • Inability to speak or move parts of the body (stroke symptoms)
  • Lightheadedness.

How long can you be unconscious for?

If you lose consciousness briefly, and suffer a concussion, 75 to 90 percent of people will fully recover in a few months. But severe damage to the brain can cause unconsciousness for days, weeks, or even longer.

What happens when one collapses?

A collapse may happen when you become unconscious for a few seconds, such as when you faint. You might fall to the ground and not respond to sounds or being shaken. Your pulse may become faint and you might even stop breathing. A person collapses when their brain isn’t getting enough oxygen.

What is the difference between fainting and collapsing?

Fainting is when you become unconscious or ‘black out’ for a brief period. You may collapse to the floor and may have a brief period of twitching while collapsed. Fainting is caused by a sudden drop in blood pressure (hypotension), which results in less blood flow to the brain.

Can unconscious patients hear?

Studies of patients’ memories of their unconscious state indicate that they heard and understood conversations. Lawrence (1995) found that unconscious patients could hear and respond emotionally to verbal communication.

What are the reasons for unconsciousness?

Common causes of temporary unconsciousness include:

  • low blood sugar.
  • low blood pressure.
  • syncope, or the loss of consciousness due to lack of blood flow to the brain.
  • neurologic syncope, or the loss of consciousness caused by a seizure, stroke, or transient ischemic attack (TIA)
  • dehydration.
  • problems with the heart’s rhythm.

What are the stages of unconsciousness?

There are five stages of unconsciousness.

  • full consciousness with some impairment.
  • a minimally conscious state.
  • a confusional state.
  • a vegetative state.
  • a coma.

What to do when someone is in an unconscious state?

When someone becomes unconscious, it is essential to know what to do. Some simple first aid steps, such as checking their vitals and for signs of serious injury, can help a person until the emergency services arrive. If a person is not breathing, it may be necessary to perform CPR. Unconsciousness is an unresponsive state.

What to do if a person is unconscious and not breathing?

Wrong answers or not being able to answer the question suggest a change in mental status. If a person is unconscious or has a change in mental status, follow these first aid steps: Call or tell someone to call 911. Check the person’s airway, breathing, and pulse frequently. If necessary, begin CPR.

What to do when a person is unconscious from choking?

If the person is unconscious from choking: Begin CPR. If you see something blocking the airway and it is loose, try to remove it. Continue CPR and keep checking to see if the object is dislodged until medical help arrives.

How to give first aid to someone who is unconscious?

Pinch the person’s nose closed and cover their mouth with yours, creating an airtight seal. Give two one-second breaths and watch for their chest to rise. Continue alternating between compressions and breaths — 30 compressions and two breaths — until help arrives or there are signs of movement.