Page 170 - (DK) Home Doctor: Providing practical advice on home treatments

168 FIRST AID

Unconsciousness

Loss of consciousness is potentially life-threatening. It has many
WARNING
possible causes, including a serious injury such as head injury;
severe bleeding; shock; poisoning; breathing difficulty; or serious Call 911.
illness. An unconscious victim will not respond to loud noises or A victim who is unconscious needs
emergency medical help.
to being tapped or shaken, and will not move or make a sound.
The eyes may stay closed. If the victim is lying face upward,
there is a risk of the tongue blocking the airway, and of choking if
he or she vomits. If breathing stops, resuscitation will be needed.

PRACTICAL TECHNIQUE
Helping an unconscious victim to prevent him or her from choking on the tongue or on
Your priorities are to get emergency medical help and to any debris in the airway. You should also look for and
assess the victim’s response, check breathing, and treat any obvious injuries and be prepared to resuscitate
maintain an open airway until help arrives. It is important if breathing stops and/or blood circulation fails.

Speaking loudly and clearly, ask the victim simple If there is no response, shout
questions such as “what is your name?” Tell the for help. Open the victim’s
1 victim to open his or her eyes. Gently shake the 2 airway by placing one hand on
shoulders (tap the shoulder of a child, or tap the the forehead and gently tilting
foot of a baby). If there is a response, leave the Listen for the head back. Pick out any
victim as you found him or her. Call an breathing obstructions from the mouth
ambulance, then treat any injuries. sounds and lift the chin with your
fingertips. Check whether he
CAUTION: Always assume or she is breathing, for up to
that the victim has 10 seconds: look for chest
a neck injury, and
handle him or her movement, listen for breathing
very gently. sounds, and feel for breath
on your cheek.
Watch the chest to
detect any movement

If the victim is breathing, place him or her in the If the victim is not breathing, ask a helper to call
recovery position (see opposite page). Look for 911. Give two effective rescue breaths (see p.170).
3 and treat any obvious injuries, such as fractures 4 Check for signs of circulation (breathing, coughing,
(see p.161) or bleeding (see p.157). Monitor and and movement) for no more than 10 seconds. If
record the level of response, pulse, and breathing they are absent, begin chest compressions (see
regularly until medical help arrives. p.171). When help arrives, describe how the victim
was when found and the treatment given.