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Overview Of Unconsciousness
An unconscious individual is difficult to awaken or can’t be made responsive to his or her environment. Unconsciousness is a result of sickness, injury or emotional shock.
Signs And Symptoms
There are several levels of unconsciousness. Some are more severe than others. Various levels of unconsciousness include:
- Short-term. Examples are blacking out and fainting.
- Medium-term. The casualty is confused when they wake up.
- Long-term. A casualty in a coma, for instance, can be stationary and not at all responsive to his or her surroundings for a long period of time.
What Are The Causes Of Unconsciousness
- Carbon monoxide pollutants;
- Hypothermia (low body temperature generally caused by too much exposure to cold temperatures);
- Stroke;
- Shock;
- Epilepsy;
Unconsciousness is a result of sickness, injury or emotional shock. - Exhaustion due to heat;
- Coma caused by diabetes;
- Extreme bleeding;
- Alcohol abuse;
- Drug overdose;
- Poison;
- Concussion or injury to the head;
- Low sugar level;
- Heartbeats that are too fast or too slow;
- Heart attack;
- Medications; and
- Damage to the heart valve.
Search for a medic alert tag if you discover a person is unconscious. It might be on a bangle or a neck chain. It could be in their wallet. The medical alert tag can classify the casualty’s medical condition.
First Aid Medical Care
- Phone or tell someone to call for an ambulance.
- Check the casualty’s airway, breathing, and pulse regularly. If required, begin rescue breathing and CPR.
- If the casualty is breathing and on their back, and you do not believe there is spinal damage, cautiously roll the casualty on their side. Gently lean the head back to keep the airway open. If you notice no breathing, roll the casualty on their back and start CPR.
- If you believe there is spinal damage, don’t move them and leave the casualty where you found them. If the casualty vomits, roll the entire body to the side. Maintain the neck and back in order to keep the head and body in the same position while you turn them over on their side.
- Keep the casualty warm until medical assistance arrives.
Related Video On Unconsciousness
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HzFD6dcNvH8