What would you do when someone faints due to low blood pressure? What will be the first to check, and when should you seek emergency services from St John Ambulance Australia? As you read further in this blog, you will also learn a lifesaving skill – how to handle conscious patients who have nearly fainted.
Identifying a Fainting Episode
Fainting, also known as syncope, is a temporary loss of consciousness. It is generally caused by a temporary reduction in the blood supply to the brain. Before fainting, the casualty may feel light-headed, nauseous, or dizzy and appear pale and clammy.
Is Passing out a Medical Emergency?
While fainting is often a temporary and benign occurrence, it may signal an underlying medical condition that requires immediate attention. Unavoidable causes, such as heart rhythm disturbances (arrhythmias) resulting in irregular heartbeats or heart rate, severe dehydration, neurological issues, or blood loss, can pose serious risks to the affected person’s well-being. Therefore, a healthcare professional should evaluate any fainting episode to determine its cause and appropriate management, ensuring the best possible outcome and preventing potential complications.
Causes of Fainting
Fainting can be caused by a variety of factors, from manageable health issues to life-threatening conditions such as:
- A sudden drop in blood pressure
- A sudden change in position, i.e. from lying down to abruptly standing up, also known as orthostatic or postural hypotension, which results in not enough blood flow to the brain
- Hypoglycemia or low blood sugar
- Dehydration
- Head injuries
- Health conditions like diabetes and emphysema, to name a few
- Stress or fear
- Poison or Alcohol
- Heat exhaustion or heat stroke – exposed to heat for long periods
- Blurred vision
- Pain
- Sight of blood
- A Heart Disease or Heart problems
- Cardiac arrest
Symptoms of Fainting
Syncope often follows a distinctive pattern. Before fainting, individuals may experience warning signs, known as pre-syncope symptoms, which serve as indicators that a fainting episode may occur. These pre-syncope symptoms can include dizziness, lightheadedness, feeling warm or clammy, nausea, visual disturbances such as blurred vision or seeing spots, and a general sense of weakness or feeling about to collapse.
During the actual fainting episode, the person may lose consciousness temporarily and collapse to the ground. Their pulse may weaken, and their skin may appear pale. Breathing can become shallow and rapid, and in some cases, muscle cramps or jerks may occur. After regaining consciousness, the individual may feel disoriented, confused, or tired.
First Aid Steps for Fainting in Australia
Often, the first aid treatment for fainting only involves providing a breath of fresh air. Still, it’s important to note that a fainting episode can also serve as a warning sign of an underlying medical condition. Immediate medical evaluation is recommended to identify potential health issues and ensure appropriate care and prevention measures are taken. This is why it’s best to seek emergency help so that healthcare professionals may perform an assessment and give medical advice. However, knowing what to do while waiting for them and which first aid training courses teach you would be best.
Before Fainting:
- If a casualty is light-headed and appears near to fainting, the best thing to do is to lie him or her down on their back and raise their legs, increasing the blood supply to the brain.
- If the casualty refuses to lie down, keep close to the casualty in case they collapse. Remember to protect the back – if the casualty is falling, do not attempt to keep them upright, but guide them gently down onto the ground.
- Once on the ground, they can be placed in the recovery position
If Unconscious:
- If they lose consciousness and cannot respond to stimuli, the first aid advice is to follow the DRSABCD action plan. Fainting usually lasts only a few seconds to a minute or two, and the casualty may even have a slight seizure.
- Proper placement into the recovery position by putting a bent knee at the right angle will assist recovery. Once conscious, encourage the casualty to lie down until they feel better, then very gradually move back into an upright position to reduce the risk of fainting again
In detail below are the generalised steps in performing first aid for fainting according to reputable health services ’ fact sheets such as the Red Cross :
Ensure Safety: The first step is to ensure the safety of the person who has fainted and those around them. Clear the area of any hazards or potential dangers.
Clear Airway: This is the first in the ABC – airway. Tilt the person’s head backwards to allow an open airway and check for any blockage that could impede their breathing.
Position: Lay the person on their back in a flat position. If possible, raise their legs above the level of their heart to improve blood flow to the brain. But, if you think there is a spinal injury, wait for the ambulance before moving them.
Loosen Tight Clothing: If the individual is wearing tight clothing, like belts or collars, loosen them to facilitate better blood circulation.
Assess Responsiveness: Try to wake the person by calling their name and gently tapping their shoulders. If they do not respond, proceed with caution.
Call for Help: If the person remains unconscious or experiences chest pain during or after fainting, call for emergency medical assistance immediately. Dial 000 (Australia’s emergency number) and request an ambulance.
Direct Pressure: If bleeding or injury caused the fainting episode, apply direct pressure to control the bleeding and prevent further complications.
Monitor Vital Signs: While waiting for medical help, monitor the person’s breathing and pulse. Be prepared to give chest compressions and perform CPR if they stop breathing or if their pulse is absent.
Defibrillator: If an automated external defibrillator (AED) is available and the person is unresponsive with no pulse, follow the device’s instructions.
Can Fainting Be Prevented?
According to Healthdirect, fainting can be prevented through:
- If you’re feeling faint, lie down with your legs raised slightly higher than your head. Be careful when moving and change positions very slowly, especially when moving from a lying or standing position.
- If you’re pregnant, avoid lying on your back, especially during the later months of pregnancy, because the pressure of your expanding uterus (womb) on your major blood vessels may cause you to feel faint.
- Eating a healthy diet and not missing meals can help. Drink plenty of clear fluid unless you have an existing medical condition, which is impossible.
- If you’ve fainted, you should avoid driving or operating any machinery until you have discussed your fainting with a healthcare professional.
Taking Blood Pressure Readings
A blood pressure measurement device can be used in the comfort of one’s home. A cuff is placed around the arm and tightens as the measurement occurs.
The measurement will yield two numbers: the systolic number (the top number) and the diastolic number (the bottom number). A normal blood pressure reading would be 120/80 mmHg or millimeters of mercury. When blood pressure drops to 90/60 mmHg, it is considered low. High blood pressure, on the other hand, is measured at 130/80 mmHg and is known as hypertension.
The Tilt Table Test
Healthcare providers use a test called the tilt table test to determine whether a person faints due to low blood pressure. This test attempts to recreate what happens when someone gets up from a lying position. People are strapped onto the table, keeping them safe if they faint while standing.
Causes of Low Blood Pressure
Apart from being very fit, people can have lower blood pressure readings if they:
- are overheated, either from the weather, from hot baths or showers, or from wearing too many clothes
- have too little blood circulating, either from donating blood, bleeding heavily or being dehydrated
- are pregnant
- have a low red blood cell count or anemia
- have side effects from medications such as antidepressants, beta-blockers, and diuretics
- have a lot of drugs or alcohol in the system
People can also have low blood pressure due to medical conditions, such as if they:
- are having an allergic reaction
- are seriously ill with an infection
- autonomic nervous system problems like Parkinson’s disease
- have certain heart conditions
- have erectile dysfunction
- have a disorder of the nervous system or glandular (endocrine) system
- are in severe pain
- have nutritional deficiencies
There is also a type of low blood pressure called ‘postural hypotension’ or ‘orthostatic hypotension. In this condition, a person’s blood pressure is expected when sitting or lying down, but it drops suddenly when they stand, making them feel dizzy or lightheaded. This can also occur when standing too long without moving.
Postural hypotension is relatively common, particularly in older people. It can be caused by one of the situations or conditions listed above. If it happens often or causes problems, you should see your doctor about it.
How to Combat Low Blood Pressure
There are many ways people can combat low blood pressure. Let’s check out a few of these methods:
- Get checked by a medical professional. The first thing to do is always to ascertain why a person has low blood pressure. This usually consists of blood tests, an electrocardiogram (ECG), and the tilt table test. If there are no clear signs, though, there are other things a person can do.
- Eat more salt. While doctors usually warn against adding more salt to one’s diet, this can help raise low blood pressure. However, one must take this same piece of advice with a “grain of salt.” Depending on the person and their circumstances, too much sodium can also lead to heart failure and heart attacks, especially in older adults. It is best to consult a physician first before doing this as well.
- Wear compression stockings. Compression stockings help decrease the blood volume collecting in a person’s legs and circulate it throughout the body. Coupled with an increased intake of salt, these lifestyle changes can help increase blood pressure.
CPR First Aid Australia’s Available Courses
CPR First Aid Australia is one of the providers of first aid courses. Aside from learning how to manage fainting due to low blood pressure, you can choose your preferred courses below:
HLTAID009 Provide cardiopulmonary resuscitation - HLTAID010 Provide an emergency first aid response
- HLTAID011 Provide first aid, formerly Level 2 or Senior First Aid.
- HLTAID012 Provide first aid in an education and care setting
- HLTAID014 Provide advanced first aid
- 22578VIC Course in First Aid Management of Anaphylaxis
- 22556VIC Course in the Management of Asthma Risks and Emergencies in the Workplace
Do You Need General First Aid Qualification?
We recommend that the 
HLTAID011 Provide first aid.
- This also includes CPR qualification. The Australian Resuscitation Council (ARC) recommends that this qualification be updated every 3 years.
Do You Need To Update CPR Qualification?
We recommend HLTAID009 Provide cardiopulmonary resuscitation.
- The Australian Resuscitation Council (ARC) recommends updating this qualification annually.
Do you need first aid qualification to work in the childcare and education industry, which includes anaphylaxis and asthma training?
We recommend HLTAID012 Provide first aid in an education and care setting.
Are You Working With Children?
You will also be required to obtain first-aid training qualifications in Asthma and Anaphylaxis. You need to check with the employer before enrolling so that the client gets the correct training for his or her circumstance.
ABOUT CPR FIRST AID
RTO No. 21903: CPR First Aid was founded in 2007. We specialise in providing first aid training in CPR, asthma and anaphylaxis for various workplaces, including childcare, schools and other industries in NSW, VIC, SA, WA and QLD. We are a Registered Training Organisation with the Australian Skills Quality Authority (No 21903). Our courses and Units are VET-accredited for workplaces in Australia.
Conclusion
The first thing to check when someone faints is the level of consciousness. If the patient is not responding, seek emergency care by dialling triple zero (000).
When having low blood pressure that causes you to faint, sit up and rest against a wall to aid recovery. If you can drink, have sips of juice or water. Elevate your feet by about 12 inches.
These basic first-aid tips are essential. For other emergency cases, you may learn more by enrolling at CPR First Aid Australia RTO NO. 21903.