Fainting

Fainting occurs when the blood supply to the brain is momentarily inadequate, causing a brief loss of consciousness. Fainting is usually caused by a relatively minor event such as the sight of blood, or just prior to receiving an injection.

Fainting can have no medical significance, or the cause can be a serious disorder. Therefore, treat loss of consciousness as a medical emergency until the signs and symptoms are relieved and the cause is known.

There are many causes of fainting, including:

•  Standing for long periods
  
• The sight of needles
  
• The sight of blood
  
• Pain
  
• Emotional events
  
• Heat

• dizziness or feeling light headed
  
• nausea
  
• pale, cool and clammy skin
  
• anxious
  
• collapse
  
• loss of consciousness
  
• rapid recovery after being laid flat

Simple Faint

• if unconscious - recovery position
  
• raise the legs if possible
  
• if conscious - lay the casualty flat and raise the legs if possible
  
• if not fully recovered in a few minutes, call ‘000' for an ambulance
  
• if the casualty was injured in the fall, treat any injuries appropriately

Heat Syncope

• recovery position
  
• cool casualty by fanning
  
• loosen and remove excessive clothing