B G I S ARIYARATHNE NURSING TUTOR

1. Fainting
First Aid

2. Lesson outcome
By the end of this lesson you will be
able to:
• recognise when someone feels faint
or has fainted
• respond appropriately to someone
who feels faint or has fainted.

3. Fainting
• The medical term for fainting is
syncope.
• Fainting is a sudden loss of
consciousness, usually temporary and
typically caused by a lack of oxygen in
the brain.

4. Fainting cont.….
• Fainting can be caused by a number of
factors linked to a person's heart,
circulation, blood pressure and
breathing
• Unlike shock, the pules becomes very
slow, though it soon picks up and
returns to normal
• Recovery is usually rapid and
complete

5. Causes
• Fear or anxiety
• Severe pain
• Underlying illness
• Long periods standing
• Lack of fresh air
• Fatigue and hunger
• Warm atmosphere

6. Signs and Symptoms
• Dizziness and Weakness
• Sweating
• Blurred vision
• Seeing spots
• Headache
• Sensation that the room is moving

7. Signs and Symptoms cont..
• Ringing in the ears
• Nausea,
• Vomiting
• Paleness of the face
• Tingling or numbness of fingertips
and around lips

8. Fainting What you will see
A brief loss of consciousness that
causes the casualty to fall to the floor
• pale
• cold skin
• sweating

9. First Aid
Aims
• To improve blood flow to the brain
• To recover safely
• To reassure the casualty
• To comfort the casualty

10. First Aid of fainting
1. Lay the victim flat on his or her back
and elevate the victim's legs above the
heart level to restore blood flow to the
brain. Or has the victim sit with her/his
head placed down between her/his
knees.

13. First Aid of fainting
2. Loosen any tight clothing and jewellery.
3. Make sure victim has plenty of fresh air
4. Do not give the victim anything to eat or
drink
5. Stay with the victim until the victim is
fully recovered.

14. First Aid steps cont…..
6. As victim recovers, reassure and
help to sit up gradually
7. Look for and treat any injury
sustained through falling

15. First Aid steps cont…..
8. If the victim does not regain
consciousness within 2 minutes, check
breathing and pulse, and be prepared
to resuscitate if necessary
• Place victim in recovery position
• Call 1990 or drive her/him to the
emergency