It’s essential to be able to identify when someone is unconscious, especially if you’re in a situation where there is no one else around. You never know when you might need to act fast and know what to do!
So, here are the different signs that someone might be unconscious and what you should do if you encounter an unconscious person. This way, you’ll be ready if it ever happens to you.
How to Tell if Someone is Unconscious
It’s impossible to tell when somebody might faint, pass out, or lose consciousness. But if you notice these signs, which can happen to anyone at any time, you must know what to do.
Sign #1: The person appears unresponsive
If you notice that the person is unresponsive and looks like they’re sleeping, this might signify that someone’s unconscious. However, just because they’re unresponsive doesn’t necessarily mean that the person has lost consciousness. If you notice this, do not shake or attempt to wake them up; it could worsen the situation. Just let them rest and stay with them until they come around.
Sign #2: The person suddenly collapses
If this happens, it could be a sign of someone unconscious. Don’t panic; if the person is still breathing, carefully check their pulse and wait there with them until they’ve fully recovered. But if the person is not breathing, begin CPR immediately.
Sign #3: The person’s eyes look dilated
If the person’s pupils are very different from each other, or if their eyes look very dark or dilated, this might signify someone who has lost consciousness. If you notice this, make sure to ask the person what their name is and try to wake them up by gently shaking them.
Sign #4: The person’s mouth is open, and their eyes are glazed over
When the person is unconscious, their mouth might look like it’s slightly open, and they might have an unfocused gaze. This could signify that you need to act fast and seek help. But you should make sure they’re breathing first by watching their chest; if the person is not breathing, begin CPR immediately.
Sign #5: The person has difficulty breathing
If the person you’re with is not breathing or has trouble breathing, this could be a sign that they’re unconscious. Don’t panic; if you can’t wake them up by calling their name or shaking them, call 911 immediately. If they’re not breathing but are still conscious, begin CPR until help arrives.
When to Seek Medical Attention for an Unconscious Person
The most important thing to do if you think someone is unconscious is wake them up. You can do this by shaking them gently or calling out their name. If you can’t wake the person up and they’re not breathing, it’s crucial to get help as soon as possible. You can call 911 or bring them to the nearest urgent care center.
If they’re not breathing but are still conscious, you should begin CPR. While you wait for help to arrive, stay with the person, talk to them, and check their breathing regularly. You could even sing a song to them if you think it will keep their spirits up while they’re unconscious.
However, stop CPR if the person starts breathing again before help arrives. But still, wait for help to arrive so that they can receive further medical attention. When someone is unconscious, you should note that they still need to go to the emergency room for a physician to determine if they have received any internal injuries from their incident.
How to Perform CPR
If the person you’re with isn’t breathing or has trouble breathing, it’s crucial to get help as soon as possible. To start CPR, you should:
- Check the person’s breathing and pulse by watching their chest
- Call 911 – let them know the person you’re with isn’t breathing and needs help immediately
- Begin chest compression by placing two fingers between the person’s nipples and pushing down hard and fast
- If you don’t know the correct beat to follow, you can do chest compression to the beat of Stayin’ Alive by Bee Gees
- Continue the chest compression until help arrives or the person wakes up
- After 30 chest compression, check the person’s airway and give them two rescue breaths
- Continue this cycle of 30 chest compression and two rescue breaths until help arrives or you notice the person’s breathing has returned on its own
- If you notice the person’s breathing has returned, stop CPR and wait until help arrives
- If the person’s pulse returns, continue to monitor them for breathing problems or injuries
Understandably, it can be frightening to be in a situation where you have to provide first aid to someone who has lost consciousness. But if or when that happens, the person’s life might be in your hands. So with this guide, you should be equipped with the knowledge of what to do when someone is unconscious.
