First aid for fainting
Fainting is sudden, brief loss of consciousness that occurs because blood flow to the brain, and thus oxygen, is impaired. The lack of oxygen causes fainting, which lasts from a few seconds to a few minutes, at which time the person usually awakens.
A variety of causes can cause fainting. The most common are the following:
Stress (severe pain, sudden emotional shock)
Stress triggers (such as heat, lack of indoor air, prolonged inactivity, hunger, fatigue, dehydration, or alcohol)
certain diseases (diseases of the cardiovascular system, hypoglycemia, osteochondrosis of the cervical spine, epilepsy, diabetes, severe forms of anemia and others).
First aid for fainting
The primary focus of first aid is to address the main cause of fainting: oxygen starvation. To do this, the blood flow to the brain must be restored to its normal level. That is the goal that all action must pursue.
If you witness a fainting event, try to catch a person when he loses consciousness to prevent his fall. After that, it is necessary to lay it on the back on a horizontal surface. Put something under your feet so that they are above the level of the head, it will facilitate the blood supply to the brain.
To provide enough fresh air and restore breathing, the doctor should open the windows and unfasten the clothes. If a person was in a stifling room or in a crowd before fainting, they should be taken out and placed in the air. In hot weather - in the shade, in cold conditions - in a warm place. If the loss of consciousness is due to hypothermia (for example, in cold water), cover the person with a blanket. People who appear to be vomiting should turn to their side to prevent them from choking on the vomitus.
You can apply a pat on the cheeks, wiping the face with a wet towel, sprinkling with water. Do not use such a widely used until recently means as ammonia, which were wetted cotton and brought to the nose of the patient. Modern medicine considers this method of excretion from fainting unsafe. The strong smell of ammonia can negatively affect breathing, even to its stop.
Once the victim has recovered, he or she must remain in a horizontal position for up to half an hour. If this is not possible, then to avoid repeated fainting, he should take the vertical position slowly, gradually, move to a more convenient place, preferably with someone's help. After a while, the person who has come to his senses can be given a warm sweet tea.
Mechanical respiration or ventilation
In most cases, people regain consciousness after first aid is given. It happens within a few seconds or one or two minutes. If consciousness does not return, check the breathing and pulse of the victim. To do this, place the ear near the person's mouth to hear the sound of air being inhaled or exhaled, and examine the chest and abdomen to detect breathing movements. Bring the ear to the person's chest to see if the heart is working. Or feel the pulse on his neck under his chin in the carotid artery.
If you do not have breathing or a pulse, call an ambulance right away. This can be done at your request by someone around you. Before she arrives, proceed with a respirator.
Indirect cardiac massage should be added if pulse is not palpated in the absence of breathing. If you do not know how to do this, try to find among others a person familiar with the procedure.
The mouth-to-mouth breathing technique most commonly used for mechanical ventilation is
Lift the chin of the victim, the head should be tilted. Place a rolled-up towel or clothing under the shoulder blades.
Examine the mouth and remove foreign material (such as vomit, mucus, sand, or other material).
Cover the open mouth with a handkerchief or a clean cloth with a large opening in the middle. Hold his nose tightly with one hand, the other - pull his chin so that the mouth was wide open, take a deep breath and, tightly pressing his lips to the lips of the rescued, strongly, but not sharply, blow air into him.
Open your fingers on the nose and let the air blown out naturally. Insufflation should last about 1.5 seconds, and the break should last four seconds.
The procedure is repeated. Pay attention to the patient’s chest wall. When air is insuffused, it should rise as if breathing natural.
If mouth-to-mouth resuscitation is not possible (eg, if spasm keeps the rescued person's mouth from opening), the same mouth-to-nose resuscitation is done.
How to prevent your own fainting
Often, fainting does not occur suddenly but instead follows a series of signs that indicate it is approaching, such as the following:
- severe weakness,
- dizziness
- Darkening eyes
- cold sweat,
- lack of air,
- Feeling numb in the arms and legs
If these symptoms occur, people should move horizontally or sit up and lower their head below the knees as soon as possible. To ensure a fresh air flow, leave the crowd, the room with a shower, or open a window. In hot weather, it is better to go into a cool room or sit in a deep shade. You can drink water, wipe your face, hands, neck with a damp tissue. People around them should not be neglected, and they should always be able to call an ambulance, bring water, or help them reach the nearest bench.
People who have fainting or near-fainting should be aware of their chronic medical conditions and follow a doctor's recommendations to prevent sudden loss of consciousness. For those suffering from vegan vascular disorders, it is important to remember that it is possible to prevent the appearance of symptoms that lead to fainting, possibly with the observance of a healthy lifestyle, the establishment of a good diet, the organization of moderate physical activity outdoors, avoiding emotional stress and exhaustion.
Indirect cardiac massage is done when the affected person's pulse is absent. The main task in this situation is to restore the heart, and therefore the blood circulation. For this procedure, the person lies on a hard surface that cannot buckle. Otherwise, resuscitation efforts will not work.
The sequence of actions should be as follows:
Release the chest of the person from the clothes. Place one palm over the other at the center of the chest. Your hands should be straight and perpendicular to the victim's chest.
Do 30 strong presses every 3 presses for about 2 seconds. Use the weight of the entire upper part of your body. Each time the victim's chest is pressed, the victim's chest should be lowered by 4-5 cm and then moved to the original position.
After each 30 strokes, inject 2 blows of air into the rescuer’s mouth, as described above.
Continue the procedure until your breathing and heart are fully restored or until medical personnel arrive.
