First aid with fainting. Causes and symptoms of fainting

Fainting is a sudden short-term loss of consciousness with loss of muscle tone and the subsequent spontaneous restoration of all functions. In practice, this is certainly the most common cause of temporary loss of consciousness. Experimental studies have shown that stopping the flow of blood to the brain in just 6-8 seconds leads to fainting. A similar effect is also observed with a decrease in systolic blood pressure below 60 mm Hg, or with a decrease in the amount of oxygen entering the blood 20% below normal. Whatever the reason for the loss of consciousness, the injured person must provide adequate first aid.

Causes of

Fainting may occur as a result of various causes, such as:

too rapid change of body position;

depletion of the body( with hard diets, anemia);

experiencing strong emotions and / or stress;

thermal or sunstroke;

cardiac rhythm disturbance;

disease or taking certain medications.

Syncope can be, on the one hand, difficult to diagnose, and on the other - proceed from the causes that threaten life. Regardless of whether you have fainted one or more times, you should definitely consult a doctor.

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Symptoms of

Syncope occurs, as a rule, in a standing position. This event may be preceded by:

dizziness;

sensation of heat or the appearance of sweat on the hands;

nausea;

lethargy;

spots before the eyes.

How to determine if a person near you is getting faint? You should be alert if you notice from him:

pale face;

cyanosis( blueing) of the lips;

cold sweat on forehead and temples.

Because during a syncope the muscles refuse to work, a person can not resist the force of gravity and falls. Therefore, if you notice that someone near you can soon lose consciousness, try to react quickly and not let the patient get injured in the fall.

First aid

In case of a syncope, the main thing is not to choke a person, because his muscles are relaxed, which can lead to the language sinking into the respiratory tract. Also, the victim can suffocate vomit.

But first carry out simple manipulations that can quickly return the patient to feeling if a faint occurred for minor reasons. Place the victim on his back, and place his feet on the dais( for example, on a folded blanket) to ensure the flow of blood to the brain. Then unbutton the clothes if it interferes with normal breathing( shirt collar, bra).Spray a person's face with cold water, but do not pour anything into your mouth( so that it does not choke).If the victim does not recover, but has breathing, call for an ambulance and flip the patient to the side. To do this, follow these steps:

Place the upper limbs along the victim's torso.

Place the lower extremities together.

Get on your knees on the side you intend to turn over the victim.

The hand that is closest to you, straighten at an angle of 90 degrees with respect to the body, and then bend at the elbow joint, thereby directing the limb upward.

Drag the other hand to the patient's chest, and place the palm under the cheek( the head should look in your direction).

Then bend the lower limb, which is farther away from you, at the knee joint, point in your direction, and fix your foot, placing it under your foot, which is closer to you.

Next, turn the body of the victim in your direction, pulling the fixed limbs in your direction.

So, the leg that is on top should be bent at right angles in the hip and knee joint.

Throw the patient's head back to open the airway.

Cover a person with a warm blanket, even if the room( or outdoors) is not cold. With fainting, blood circulation slows down, which can lead to hypothermia.

Regularly check the breathing of the victim. If a stop occurs, do artificial respiration and indirect heart massage.

It does not matter on which side the victim lies. The exception is pregnant women( with a noticeable stomach).They should always be turned to the left.

If the loser does not regain consciousness for more than 30 minutes, it should be turned over to the other side.

After regaining consciousness, the patient must remain lying for some time. When it becomes easier, you can give a cup of coffee or tea.

What should a person who feels the onset of fainting do?

People who faint not happen for the first time, on symptoms feel its offensive. Then the victim has a few seconds to prepare. How? This largely depends on the situation in which you are.

If possible, assume a reclining position.

If there is another person nearby, ask him to substitute something under your feet - so that the lower limbs are higher than the head. Ideally, the assistant should be with you for a few minutes until you completely recover.

If you can not lie down, in the standing position, cross your legs as high as possible, and then bend slightly. In this pose, try to rise on the toes and strain the muscles of the legs and buttocks. There will be an effect of a kind of muscular pump: a rush of blood to go back to the heart and from there to the brain.

If possible, cross your palms at the chest level( it's best to put your fingers together in the "lock"), and then try to stretch them.

If you are in a situation that does not allow you to perform the above actions, try to slowly become one knee, pretending that you are adjusting the shoelaces on the shoe, and then also slowly change the knee and "straighten" the other shoelace. From the knees, rise very smoothly.

How to prevent syncope?

First of all, drink a lot of liquids: 3.5 liters in winter and up to 5-6 liters in summer.
Always carry a small bottle of water.
If you suffer from low blood pressure, regularly salivate your food.
And most importantly - avoid situations that cause fainting, especially stuffy and crowded places.

You have learned everything about fainting: how to recognize it, provide first aid and prevent a second attack. As you can see, there is nothing complicated here, you just need to remember a few tips and react quickly in a critical situation. We wish you always to remain healthy and full of energy!