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International

Unconsciousness

Reviewed

Use at your own risk. For education and research only. Not medical advice. Check the numbers and rules for the country you are in, because they change. Before you rely on these cards, ask a medical professional or a fire safety specialist to review them. Disclaimer

Do this first

Shake and shout. No response? Tilt the head back and check breathing. If they breathe normally, use the recovery position. If they do not, start CPR.

An unconscious person lying on their back can die from their own tongue or stomach contents, whatever caused the collapse. The job is to keep the airway open until help arrives, and that takes no equipment.

Step by step

  1. Check for danger, then shout at them and shake their shoulders firmly.
  2. If there is no response, tilt the head back, lift the chin and check for normal breathing for up to ten seconds.
  3. If they breathe normally, call 112, then roll them onto their side into the recovery position.
  4. Kneel beside them. Place the near arm at a right angle, palm up, bring the far hand against their near cheek, bend the far knee, and roll them towards you by that knee.
  5. Tilt the head back again once they are on their side, so the airway stays open and anything in the mouth can drain out.
  6. Check the breathing every minute. If it stops or turns to gasping, roll them onto their back and start CPR.
  7. Cover them with a coat or blanket. If they must stay in position for over thirty minutes, roll them onto the other side.

Never do this

  • Do not put anything under the head of an unconscious person lying flat, and do not give them anything to drink. Both can close the airway.
  • Do not assume a drunk person is just sleeping it off. Unconscious is unconscious, and vomiting while lying on the back can kill either way.
  • Do not move an unconscious person after a fall from height or a crash, unless they vomit or stop breathing. Then the airway comes before the spine.

Call emergency services if

  • Anyone who does not wake when shaken and shouted at.
  • Anyone who woke up but is confused, vomiting, or was out for more than a moment.
  • Any unconsciousness involving a head injury, medication, alcohol or diabetes.

Common questions

They fainted and came round in a few seconds. Ambulance or not?

A simple faint with a quick, full recovery in a young, healthy person can usually be watched. Call if it happened during exercise, while sitting or lying down, with chest pain, or in anyone older or with a heart condition.

Why on their side and not on their back?

On the back, the relaxed tongue falls into the throat and vomit runs into the lungs. On the side, gravity works the other way on both. It is the simplest life-saving move in first aid.

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Sources and standards

Use at your own risk. For education and research only. Not medical advice. Check the numbers and rules for the country you are in, because they change. Before you rely on these cards, ask a medical professional or a fire safety specialist to review them.