1 Raise legs
2Make victim comfortable
3Treat any injuries
4 Help victim up
Fainting
Pain, fright, fatigue, hunger, emotion, or simply standing still for a long period of time have all been known to interrupt the flow of oxygen to the brain, which can cause a temporary loss of consciousness, or a faint. Your aims are to improve bloodflow to the victim’ s brain, to make her comfortable, and to treat any injuries that may have occurred when the victim fell. Recovery is usually rapid.
TREATING FAINTING
HEATSTROKE • FAINTING
SIGNS & SYMPTOMS
• Feeling dizzy, weak, and sometimes nauseous
• Sweating
• Very pale skin
• Low pulse rate
• Brief loss of consciousness
53
1 Raise legs
• If the victim has fainted, gently raise her legs above the level of her heart to improve blood flow.
• If she feels faint but has not fainted, ask her to lay down, and to raise her legs.
• Support her legs with your body or with a pile of cushions, pillows, or folded blankets.
Support legs above level of heart
2Make victim comfortable
• Loosen any restrictive clothing.
• Ensure that the victim gets plenty of fresh air. If you are indoors, open a window or fan her face.
• Keep bystanders away.
• Reassure the victim as she recovers from the faint.
3Treat any injuries
• Look for any injuries that the victim may have sustained when she fell after fainting.
• Treat these injuries appropriately.
4 Help victim up
• When the victim feels better, help her to sit up very slowly.
• If the victim begins to feel faint again, help her to lay down.
• Raise and support her legs again, until she feels fully recovered.
• Help her to sit up again, moving very slowly and making sure that she no longer feels faint.
• If in doubt about the victim, call her doctor. See chart p. 82 Feeling faint / passing out.
!
Important
• If the victim does not regain consciousness, open her airway, check her breathing, and be
prepared to begin resuscitation( pp. 12 – 20).
• Dial 911 or call EMS.