What actions should you take if someone faints? Knowing what to do in response to this common inquiry might be challenging. In this blog post, we’ll go over the actions you should take in an emergency. Additionally, we’ll offer some advice on how to stop someone from fainting in the first place.
What is Fainting?
Fainting is a temporary loss of consciousness, otherwise called syncope. It is generally caused by a temporary reduction in the blood supply to the brain. Before fainting, the casualty may feel lightheaded, nauseous, or dizzy and appear pale and clammy.
What is Hypotension?
Hypotension, often known as low blood pressure, is a condition marked by blood pressure lower than normal for the person.
What is Orthostatic Hypotension?
Orthostatic Hypotension causes a sharp drop in blood pressure while getting out of a lying or sitting position. This may make you feel lightheaded and dizzy, which is risky if you’re driving or working on other duties that require concentration. Orthostatic hypotension can be uncomfortable, but it is typically not harmful and can be managed with medicine or a lifestyle change.
Causes of a Fainting
There are identified causes of fainting in people, and sometimes the explanation is not immediately apparent. Dietary factors such as dehydration or low blood sugar can contribute to fainting. Low blood pressure, oxygen insufficiency, blood loss, head injuries, and heat stroke are a few other physiologically based potential reasons. The pulse of a fainting person will slow down, but it will typically pick up and return to normal within minutes. A more serious situation could arise if a person who has fainted remains unresponsive after a few minutes.
No matter what caused someone to pass out, giving them the same first aid treatment is best.
How Do the Causes of Fainting Happen?
Dehydration
When your body doesn’t have enough fluids, dehydration occurs. Dehydration can range from mild to moderate; if untreated immediately, it can become severe. Losing too much fluid leads to low blood pressure, and your body could lead to fainting.
Low Blood Sugar
Hypoglycemia is when your blood sugar (glucose) level is lower than the standard range. For a normal person without diabetes, normal blood sugar level is 70–99 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL) (3.9–5.5 mmol/L). Hypoglycemic patients have a blood sugar level below 70 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL) or 3.9 millimoles per litre (mmol/L).
According to Harvard Health Publishing, when your blood sugar is low, your brain tries to conserve as much energy as possible, which may cause you to feel dizzy and could cause fainting.
Low Blood Pressure
Hypotension or low blood pressure happens when the pressure circulating in the body is lower than normal. The low blood pressure reading is less than 90/60mmHg. Low blood pressure could lead to fainting when insufficient blood supply in the lungs, heart, and the rest of the body.
Blood Loss
A vasovagal attack happens when there is increased blood loss and makes the blood pressure drop, reducing the circulation to the brain and causing fainting.Â
What is Hypovolemic shock?
Hypovolemia, on the other hand, occurs when the body’s blood volume falls too low. This is when a person has lost at least 15% of their blood volume.
When levels are thus low, a variety of symptoms are frequently experienced by people. Dizziness, muscle cramps, weariness, and darker-coloured urine are some symptoms. Shortness of breath, profuse perspiration and unconsciousness are more severe symptoms.
Heatstroke
Heatstroke is a severe heat-related illness. This is a medical emergency as it may lead to unconsciousness and death. Any organ in the body could be impacted. Usually, it happens when the body temperature is 40 degrees or higher. The decreased blood supply causes dizziness and fainting brought on by heat to the brain.
Management of Fainting
Before Fainting:
- If a casualty is lightheaded and appears near fainting, the best thing to do is lie 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 your 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, follow DRSABCD.
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 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.
First Aid Courses to Enroll
You can manage when someone is nearly fainting and if someone passes out. You can better control it by identifying the symptoms and signs early. If you are interested in enrolling in a first aid course in Liverpool, contact CPR First Aid for more information.
CPR First aid courses and training are open to all since emergencies such as complications caused by fainting can happen to all ages, anywhere in Australia. HLTAID010 Provide, an emergency first aid response providing basic emergency life support, is one of our popular courses. Contact us anytime for your queries.
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
Considering all this information, you can take action on someone who appears near to fainting. If the casualty loses consciousness, follow step by step in performing DRSABCD. When someone passes out, there are different underlying factors; you should be prepared to administer first aid measures. Enrol in First Aid Courses with us in Liverpool. See you there!
