V.

Fainting, Seizures, and Coma

Fainting, a sudden, temporary loss of consciousness, occurs when the brain does not receive enough blood. Just before fainting, a person’s skin may appear pale and clammy or sweaty. To restore blood flow to the brain, a first-aid provider should elevate the unconscious person’s feet or position the individual’s head below the level of the heart. The victim’s airway and breathing should be closely monitored. A fainting victim must also be kept warm to prevent shock. If the victim does not fully recover after five minutes, medical help should be requested.

Seizures, sudden brief episodes of intense neurological activity, may result from a variety of causes, including epilepsy, a neurological disorder, and head injuries. First aid for seizures consists of protecting the victim from accidental injury during the seizure. The first-aid provider should not put any objects in a seizing person’s mouth or try to hold the tongue. If the victim has medical identification indicating epilepsy, an ambulance need not be called unless the person experiences multiple seizures or one seizure lasts more than five minutes. Otherwise, once the seizure stops, question the person about the need for a hospital evaluation. If no medical identification exists the first-aid provider should request medical assistance.

A deep state of unconsciousness due to illness or injury is known as a coma. Comatose individuals cannot be awakened. Heart failure, stroke, epilepsy, diabetes, or traumatic brain injury can cause comas and a medical alert tag on the victim may identify a possible cause of the coma. If the person is breathing, first aid is limited to providing comfort until medical assistance arrives. If the victim is not breathing, the first-aid provider should administer mouth-to-mouth or mask-to-mouth resuscitation.