TL;DR
Most people who faint recover quickly. But it is essential to make sure it is not a more serious emergency. If possible, help the person lie down. Check for breathing, signs of circulation, as well as any other injuries. If they wake up, do not rush them to sit up or stand. Call 911 if they do not regain consciousness quickly, have trouble breathing, have a serious injury, show any signs of a more serious medical emergency, or if you are not sure. It’s always better to have EMS on the way.
Fainting is a temporary loss of consciousness caused by a brief decrease in blood flow to the brain. In most cases, someone who faints will recover quickly and fully. However, loss of consciousness can also be a sign of a more serious medical emergency, like a heart attack, stroke, seizure, or many others.
Knowing how to respond to a fainting spell and knowing when it’s something more serious can help save lives.
What Is Fainting?
As mentioned, fainting (also called syncope) is a temporary loss of consciousness that occurs when the blood supply to the brain slows down for a short time. A person may feel lightheaded, weak, nauseated, sweaty, or unusually warm before losing consciousness.
Common triggers include:
- Standing for a long time
- Standing up too quickly
- Dehydration
- Overheating
- Emotional stress or fear
- Severe pain
- Not eating enough
When someone faints, they usually recover gradually over the course of a few minutes. As they recover, they may feel cold from a cold sweat, or they may be unaware they fainted at all. However, the above causes of fainting are benign, and these types of fainting episodes, while alarming, are not life-threatening. The biggest risk in such fainting episodes is actually physical injury sustained when falling.
But you should never assume that a person who has suddenly become unconscious has simply fainted.
Fainting vs. More Serious Loss of Consciousness
A typical fainting episode is brief, and someone who fainted will usually become responsive after lying flat for a few moments.
Warning signs of a more serious problem include:
- Remaining unconscious
- Difficulty waking
- Persistent confusion after waking
- Trouble speaking or moving normally
- Seizure activity
- Difficulty breathing
- Chest pain or an abnormal heartbeat
- A serious fall or head injury
If someone does not regain consciousness quickly, treat the situation as a medical emergency.
What to Do if Someone Faints
1. Help Them to the Ground
If you can reach them in time and support their weight, try to help the person down onto the floor gently.
2. Check Responsiveness and Breathing
Speak loudly and gently tap the person’s shoulder to get their attention.
Check whether they are breathing normally. If they’re not breathing normally, or are only gasping:
- Call 911.
- Send someone to get an automated external defibrillator (AED), if available.
- Begin CPR.
- Use the AED as soon as it arrives and follow its instructions.
3. Check For Injuries
If the person has fallen to the ground, check for signs of injuries and keep the area safe.
Do not try to bring them upright. Not only may they fall again, but blood flows to the brain more easily when lying down flat.
4. Position Them Safely
If the person is breathing normally and there is no obvious injury, have them lie flat on their back. If it’s possible, raise their legs about 6-12 inches to improve blood flow to the brain. Loosen any tight clothing around the neck or waist if it could reduce circulation. Give the person room to breathe and recover.
Important: If the person is nauseous or begins to vomit, quickly turn them onto their side.
When to Use the Recovery Position
If the person remains unconscious but is breathing normally, place them on their side in the recovery position to help keep the airway open.
To use the Recovery Position:
- Position the nearest arm away from the body.
- Bring the far arm across the chest.
- Bend the far knee.
- Carefully roll the person onto their side.
- Tilt the head slightly backward to keep the airway open.
Continue monitoring their breathing.
Never move somebody if you suspect a neck or back injury.
What to Do When the Person Wakes Up
Have them remain lying down for several minutes, then help them sit up slowly. If dizziness returns, have them lie back down. Lying down makes it easier for blood to reach the brain because the heart doesn’t have to pump blood upward against gravity. Do not have the person stand or walk if they don’t seem fully awake or alert.
If the person is fully awake and able to swallow normally, you may offer water, especially if dehydration may have contributed. Do not try to give food or water to someone who isn’t fully alert, since they might choke.
What Not to Do
Do not:
- Slap or shake the person.
- Splash water on their face.
- Force them to stand or walk.
- Put anything in their mouth.
- Give food or drinks while they are unconscious.
- Leave an unconscious person alone.
Focus instead on breathing, safe positioning, and watching for signs of a medical emergency.
Warning Signs of Something More Serious
Fainting may require medical evaluation if it happens:
- During exercise
- Without any warning
- While sitting or lying down
- With chest pain or shortness of breath
- With a severe headache
- After a significant injury
- Repeatedly within a short period
Fainting associated with heart or neurological symptoms should always be taken seriously.
When to Call 911
Call 911 if the person:
- Does not regain consciousness quickly
- Is not breathing normally
- Has chest pain or difficulty breathing
- Has a seizure
- Has severe or persistent confusion
- Has trouble speaking
- Has weakness or numbness on one side
- Has a severe headache
- Has an irregular or very rapid heartbeat
- Was seriously injured during the fall
- Fainted during physical activity
- Faints repeatedly
- Has known serious heart disease
If you are unsure whether the loss of consciousness is a simple faint, it is safer to call for emergency help.
Final Thoughts
Take Loss of Consciousness Seriously
While it can be alarming, most fainting episodes can be quickly resolved with basic care. Keep the person on their back, raising their legs when appropriate, and monitor their breathing.
Abnormal breathing and prolonged unconsciousness are indicators for a potential life-threatening problem. Call 911 if you notice any of the warning signs, and monitor them until help arrives.