Page 94 - Participant Manual

then place the person in the recovery position. Stay with the
person until he or she is fully recovered and aware of his or
her surroundings, or until emergency responders arrive. If the
person is not responsive and not breathing or only gasping
after the seizure, begin CPR immediately and use an AED as
soon as possible, if you are trained in these skills.

Myth-Information. Myth: Put something between the
teeth of person who is having a seizure to prevent the
person from biting or swallowing his or her tongue. This
practice is unsafe and unnecessary. It is impossible to
swallow one’s own tongue. And although the person may
bite down on his or her tongue, causing it to bleed, this
is a minor problem compared with the problems that can
be caused by attempting to put an object in the mouth
of a person who is having a seizure. You could chip a
tooth or knock a tooth loose, putting the person at risk
for choking. The person may also bite down with enough
force to break the object and then choke on a piece of the
object. Additionally, attempting to place an object in the
person’s mouth puts you at risk for getting bitten.

Fainting

If a person suddenly loses consciousness and then “comes to” after about a minute, he or she may simply
have fainted. Fainting is caused by a sudden decrease in blood flow to the brain. Usually the cause of fainting
is not serious. For example, being dehydrated (not having enough fluid in the body), being too hot, being in a
crowded room or feeling intense emotion can cause a person to faint. After the person faints, the head is at
the same level as the heart. This helps blood flow return to the brain and the person quickly recovers.

Signs and Symptoms of Fainting

A person who is about to faint often becomes pale, begins to sweat and may feel weak or dizzy. The person
may sense that he or she is about to faint and may attempt to sit down to prevent a fall.

First Aid Care for Fainting

The person may faint before you even know what is happening,
but sometimes it is possible to prevent a fainting spell by having
the person sit down with his or her head near his or her knees,
or lie down flat on his or her back. If the person does faint,
check the person for responsiveness and normal breathing.
If the person responds and is breathing normally, check the
person from head to toe for injuries that might have happened
as a result of the fall. If there are no injuries, place the person in © 2011, 2016 The American National Red Cross. All rights reserved.
the recovery position and loosen any tight clothing. Call 9-1-1
or the designated emergency number if you find any injuries or
have any concerns about the person’s condition. Although the
cause of fainting is not usually serious, the person should still
follow up with his or her healthcare provider. If the person does
not respond and is not breathing or is only gasping, begin CPR
immediately and use an AED as soon as possible, if you are
trained in these skills.

Chapter 5 Sudden Illness | 86 | First Aid/CPR/AED Participant’s Manual Chapter 5 Sudden Illness | 87 | First Aid/CPR/AED Participant’s Manual