First aid at a faint

Syncope – the short-term loss of consciousness caused by a brain hypoxia. Most often the disturbances of a vascular bed happening owing to various factors from stay in the stuffy room to anemia are the reason of a hypoxia. The syncope in itself is not a life-threatening state, however it can be a symptom of a dangerous disease, for example, of a stenosis of a pulmonary or coronary artery.

Despite short duration of this morbid condition, it is necessary to be able to give first aid as it is, perhaps, the most widespread of all acute pathologies after bleeding.

Symptoms of a faint and its difference from other pathologies with similar symptoms

Despite suddenness, a syncope nevertheless has so-called harbingers thanks to which people usually feel its approach in advance. Treat harbingers of a faint:

• Weakness;
• Nausea;
• Flashing of "front sights" before eyes, blackout;
• Pallor of integuments;
• Cold perspiration;
• Ring in ears.

Later short time after emergence of these symptoms, people faints.

The syncope should be distinguished from a coma and an epileptic attack. If the usual syncope does not demand hospitalization of the patient, then at these states it is necessary. It is easy to be mistaken as in all three cases there is a loss of consciousness. Difference only that at a faint it is short-term lasts no more than 5 minutes, the thicket is 1-2 minutes old. It must be kept in mind - if a syncope long (3-5 min.), there can be salivation, emergence of spasms and an involuntary urination that sometimes leads to the fact that the syncope is confused to an epileptic attack. It is difficult for nonspecialist to define a difference therefore if first aid at a faint did not help and the person is unconscious 5 minutes and more, it is necessary to call the ambulance.

First aid at a faint

The air hunger of a brain caused is the reason of a faint if to speak simply, sharply worsened intake of blood in a brain. The easiest and logical way to adjust supply of blood to an upper point of a trunk which the head is - to give to a body horizontal position. This simple action also is the main measure for first-aid treatment at a faint. It is also necessary to make all necessary that the victim got access to fresh air: to weaken too hard clothes, in the stuffy room to open a window.

As a rule, it is quite enough and no other help is required. If the syncope happened at the person to a chronic disease, then having recovered, he needs to see the attending physician or to take medicine according to the instruction given it by the doctor in advance.

If in a prone position, provided with fresh air, the victim did not recover consciousness, it should be put on one side that it did not choke with emetic masses and did not choke because of the sunk-down language and to call the ambulance. Before arrival of the ambulance it is impossible to leave the unconscious person of one. The doctor should be called and if the victim recovered consciousness, but his health remains bad.

Errors of first-aid treatment

The usual syncope does not pose critical threat for life and health, especially if it is correct to give first aid. But, despite simplicity of measures for assistance in this state, quite often the people who are sincerely wishing to be useful make mistakes which represent sometimes big danger, than a syncope.

The mistake 1 – not to allow the victim to lay down. The opinion is for some reason eurysynusic that the person in a faint categorically cannot allow to lie. There is nothing more wide of the mark. At a faint it is necessary to lay down, just taking into account that consciousness of the person is disconnected, and it falls, it is necessary to try to make so that when falling the victim was not injured. In other words, to allow to fall it is impossible, and to allow to lie – it is necessary.

Mistake 2 – reception of medicines. If the syncope occurred in the crowded place, namely so usually and happens as big accumulation of people results in closeness and an overheat, surely there will be a goodhearted person ready to share tablets which it carries at itself(himself) "just in case". As a rule, it something from heart drugs, most often nitroglycerine, or anti-hypertensive means. Categorically it is impossible to allow it. At a faint medicinal support is not required in general, and such drugs not only will not help, but also considerably will worsen a state, having lowered pressure which already fell at a faint.

Mistake 3 – liquid ammonia. Even it is possible to find information that as a measure of first aid at a faint it is necessary to bring to the victim's nose cotton wool or a bottle with liquid ammonia in some medical sources. It is a mistake. The liquid ammonia possessing a pungent smell can help at a stage of harbingers of a faint when the person feels the approaching faintness, but did not faint yet. The unconscious person cannot start back, caustic vapors of liquid ammonia at a breath easily cause a corrosive burn of a mucous membrane. Besides, salammoniac can lead to a reflex spasm and an apnoea.

The mistake 4 – to beat the victim cheeks. Too the ancient, more than once beaten by cinema way of reduction in feeling of the person who fainted. But what is good for cinema, it is not always useful in life. Weak slaps in the face will help nothing, and strong are capable to damage – when the unconscious person, it is easy not to calculate forces and to cause a bruise of soft tissues, and it still at best. Such treatment is worse than the disease – after a faint the victim is recovered within an hour, and bruises descend much longer.

The mistake 5 – to splash on the victim water. Useless action in warm season and bringing potential harm to cold.

Conclusion

Remember that the help has to be competent because excessive actions can result in result, the return expected. Everything that it is necessary to make as first aid at a faint, it:

1. To lay the victim;
2. To provide inflow of fresh air.

In doubtful cases – to call the doctor.