When a person passes out, they should see if they are breathing and have a pulse, and if they do not breathe, they should call for medical help, immediately call 192, and begin cardiac massage. Here's how to do the right heart massage.
However, when someone faints but is breathing, first aid is:
- Lay the person on the floor, belly up, and put their legs higher than the body and head, about 30 to 40 centimeters from the floor;
- By the side of the victim's head, to facilitate breathing and avoid suffocation due to the risk of vomiting;
- Loosen clothing and open buttons to make breathing easier;
- Communicate with the person, even if he does not respond, indicating that he is there to help you;
- Observe possible injuries caused by falling and if you are bleeding, stop the hemorrhage;
- After recovering from fainting, 1 packet of sugar may be given directly into the mouth, under the tongue.
If the person takes more than 1 minute to wake up, it is recommended to call an ambulance through the number 192 and check again if you are breathing, initiating the heart massage if you are not.
When you regain your consciousness, being able to hear and speak, you should sit for at least 10 minutes before walking again, as you may experience a new fainting.
What not to do in case of fainting
In case of fainting spells:
- Do not give water or food as it may cause choking;
- Do not give chlorine, alcohol, or any strong odor to breathe;
- Do not shake the victim as there may have been a fracture and make the situation worse.
When in doubt, the best thing to do is to wait only for medical help, as long as the person is not in danger and is breathing.
What to do if you feel like you are going to faint
If there are symptoms of fainting, such as pallor, dizziness, and blurred vision, it is recommended to sit and hold your head between your knees or lie flat on your stomach, and place your legs higher than your body and head, because in addition to avoiding a possible fall, also facilitates the circulation of blood to the brain.
One should still try to breathe calmly and try to perceive the reason for the sensation of fainting, avoiding, if possible, the factor that caused the fainting, such as fear or heat, for example, and one should only get up 10 minutes later and only if they do not already exist symptoms.
When to go to the doctor
After fainting, if it is not necessary to call for medical help, it is recommended to go to the hospital if:
- Fainting happens again during the following week;
- It is the first case of fainting;
- Show signs of internal bleeding, such as black stools or blood in the urine, for example;
- Symptoms include shortness of breath, excessive vomiting, or speech problems after waking up.
These can be symptoms of a serious health problem, such as heart disease, neurological or internal hemorrhage, for example, so it is very important that the individual go to the hospital in these cases. Know the main causes and how to avoid fainting.
