Finding someone unconscious can be scary, especially when you aren’t sure what happened. You’re not sure if they’re okay. They won’t wake up or respond when you speak to them.
So what should you do?
An unconscious person needs immediate medical attention, even if they’re still breathing. You should make sure both you and the unconscious person are in a safe location. Check to make sure they are unresponsive, check for breathing and signs of circulation, and call 911.
Knowing what to do during those first few minutes while you wait for emergency medical services (EMS) to arrive can make the difference between life and death.
TL;DR
If someone is unconscious but breathing normally, call 911 and continue watching their breathing. If you do not suspect a spinal or cervical injury, place them on their side in the recovery position to help keep their airway open. Stay with them until EMS arrives. If they stop breathing normally or are only gasping, begin CPR and use an AED if one is available.
What Does It Mean When Someone Is Unconscious but Still Breathing?
An unconscious person is someone who does not respond normally to your voice or touch and cannot be woken up.
Loss of consciousness can be a sign of a serious medical emergency. The person may still be breathing even though they are unable to respond. However, it is essential that you act quickly.
There are many possible causes of unconsciousness, including:
- Fainting
- Head injuries
- Seizures
- Low blood sugar
- Drug or alcohol overdose
- Poisoning
- Stroke
- Severe allergic reactions
- Heat-related emergencies
- Lack of oxygen
- Serious infections
- Cardiac arrest
- Other heart or circulation problems
You don’t need to figure out exactly what caused the person to become unconscious before helping them. If a person is unresponsive, treat it as a medical emergency. Remember the phrase: Check – Call – Care.
Step 1: Make Sure the Scene Is Safe
Before giving aid, make sure both the person and you are not in danger.
For example, watch for traffic, fire, electrical hazards, chemicals, falling objects or other dangers. If it is not safe, move the person to safety if possible. If it’s not possible to move the person without putting yourself in danger, call 911.
Step 2: Check for Responsiveness
Try to determine whether the person is actually unconscious. Tap them on the shoulder and shake them gently while saying, “Are you okay? Are you okay?” To check for responsiveness in an infant, do not shake them. Instead, tap their feet or upper body.
If no response, check for breathing and signs of circulation.
Step 3: Check for Breathing and Signs of Circulation
If the person is not obviously breathing, place them on their back.
To check for signs of circulation, find the carotid artery and check for a pulse for a full 10 seconds. The carotid artery is located in the victim’s neck approximately one inch away from the cricoid cartilage in a depression on the side of the neck. You could also look for other signs of circulation, such as movement and skin color.
Place your ear close to their mouth while looking at their chest. This position will allow you to see the chest rise as well as any other movement.
Pay attention to their breathing pattern. It’s important to recognize the difference between normal breathing and occasional gasping breaths. These occasional gasping breaths are called agonal breathing and require immediate assistance.
If they are not breathing normally and have no signs of circulation, call 911 to activate EMS and begin CPR.
Step 4: Call 911
If someone is unresponsive, you should consider it a medical emergency, even if they are breathing.
Call 911 or have another person call if you have not done so already.
Tell the 911 dispatcher that the person is unconscious. Make sure you provide other information that may be pertinent, such as whether or not they are breathing and their approximate age. You should also provide any information you have about what caused the person to become unconscious, such as an accident, choking, drugs, or a heart condition. If there are any medications, drugs, or something potentially poisonous near the person, let the 911 dispatcher know and give it to EMS when they arrive.
Follow the dispatcher’s instructions and don’t hang up until you’re told to do so.
If there is someone else available who can call, have them call 911, tell them what to say, and ask them if they understand.
Step 5: Place the Person in the Recovery Position
If the person is unconscious but breathing normally, place them on their side in the recovery position.
The recovery position helps keep the airway open. You can easily monitor breathing, circulation, and any changes in their condition. It also allows vomit, blood or other fluids to drain from the mouth instead of blocking the airway.
Do not put someone in the recovery position if you suspect spinal or cervical injury.
To place someone in a recovery position:
- Kneel beside the person.
- Position the arm closest to you so it can support their head.
- Bend the furthest away from you.
- Carefully roll the person toward you onto their side.
- Position their head so the airway remains open and fluid can drain from their mouth.
- Make sure their face and mouth are positioned so fluids can drain outward.
Once they are positioned, continue to monitor their breathing.
What If You Suspect a Neck or Back Injury?
The situation is different if the person may have suffered a serious traumatic injury.
Look at the mechanism of injury. For example, suspect spinal or cervical injury if someone became unconscious after:
- Falling down stairs, from a ladder or other height
- A vehicle accident
- Violent trauma
- An obvious head, neck or back injury
Unnecessary movement could potentially make a spinal injury worse.
If you suspect a possible neck, back, hip, or pelvic injury, it’s best to not move them. However, if you need to move them for immediate safety or to perform lifesaving care, use extreme caution.
Step 6: Keep Watching Their Breathing
It is essential that you monitor their breathing. Even though someone may be breathing normally, their condition can quickly change.
If the person stops breathing, let the 911 dispatcher know and begin CPR.
The person could also regain consciousness. In our experience, the most common time for an unconscious person to vomit is immediately after they regain consciousness. If this happens, make sure they are able to expel everything and keep their airway clear.
Stay with the person and continue watching for normal breathing and changes in responsiveness until EMS arrives.
What If They Stop Breathing?
If an unconscious person stops breathing, begin CPR immediately. Place them on a hard surface and lay them on their back. If an AED is available, turn it on, attach the pads, and follow the prompts. If an AED is not available, start with chest compressions, and continue CPR until EMS arrives and takes over, or if the person starts breathing on their own.
Should You Give an Unconscious Person Food, Water or Oral Medication?
No.
Never try to give food, water, pills, or other substances by mouth to someone who is unconscious. An unconscious person cannot swallow normally. Anything placed in their mouth could be aspirated or cause choking.
Should You Try to Wake an Unconscious Person?
Other than your initial assessment, there is no need to try to wake them up.
If the person moves or shows signs of consciousness, do not try to move them other than to maintain their airway.
Do not encourage them to stand or walk before EMS is able to assess them.
What If the Person Is Having a Seizure?
During a seizure, the important thing is to make sure the person does not injure themselves. Move items that may cause injury out of the way.
Do not put anything in their mouth or try to restrain them. Do not move them unless they are in immediate danger.
After the seizure, check for breathing and signs of circulation. If breathing, place them in the recovery position. If they are not breathing normally, begin CPR.
What If You Don’t Know Why They’re Unconscious?
That’s okay.
As a bystander, you are not expected to diagnose the cause of unconsciousness.
It can be helpful if you know whether the person fainted, had a seizure, suffered a head injury, experienced a medical emergency, or took a medication or drug.
Unconscious vs. Cardiac Arrest: Know the Difference
One of the most important things to check in an emergency is whether an unconscious person is breathing normally.
Someone in cardiac arrest will be unresponsive, AND they will not be breathing normally. They may not breathe at all, or they may have occasional abnormal gasps.
That’s when CPR and an AED are necessary.
Someone who is unconscious but still breathing normally does not need chest compressions. However, you should continually monitor their breathing and make sure their airway remains open.
Don’t Leave an Unconscious Person Alone
After you or someone else has called 911, do not leave the person alone. Remain on the phone with the 911 dispatcher and wait for EMS to arrive. Monitor their condition and immediately let the dispatcher know of any changes.
CPR and First Aid Training Can Help You Be Ready
Taking a class is the best way to prepare yourself for an emergency.
CPR and First Aid training teaches you how to recognize an emergency, check an unresponsive person, perform CPR, use an AED, manage choking, control severe bleeding, and provide first aid for common medical emergencies.
When someone suddenly collapses, you may only have a few minutes to decide what to do. Having the confidence to act quickly can help save a life.