How to recognise when someone is unconscious
The victim is unconscious if he does not understand simple questions (for instance, Can you hear me? What is your name? What happened to you?) or obey simple orders (squeeze my hand, open your eyes).
The victim is unconscious if he does not understand simple questions (for instance, Can you hear me? What is your name? What happened to you?) or obey simple orders (squeeze my hand, open your eyes).
Unconsciousness is potentially life-threatening. An unconscious person is in danger of choking from vomit, saliva or blood because normal reflexes such as coughing are not active.
If the person is lying face up, there is a danger that the soft tissue of the tongue or throat may obstruct the airway. tongue or throat soft tissue may obstruct the airway. This situation can be life-threatening; it is essential to free the airways as soon as possible.
Free the victim from anything that could impede breathing (belts, ties, tight necklaces...) and take off his glasses if needed. Tilt the head back carefully and pull the chin upward; this maneuver is meant to make sure the tongue does not fall back in the throat which would prevent the victim from breathing. Then look into the victim's mouth and take out any foreign objects.
Make sure that the victim is breathing: with your cheek (to see if you can feel the victim's breath), the ear (breathing noise) or the eyes (the thorax and abdomen should rise and fall). Put the victim in recovery position then have emergency services called and supervise the victim until rescue teams arrive.
Start with the victim lying on his back and with the legs straight out. Kneel on one side of the victim, facing the victim. Move the arm closest to you so it is perpendicular to the body, with the elbow bent (perpendicular). Move the farthest arm across the body so that the hand is resting across the torso. Bend the leg farthest from you so the knee is elevated and reach inside the knee to pull the thigh toward you. Use the other arm to pull the shoulder that is farthest from you, then roll the body toward you. Leave the upper leg in a bent position to stabilize the body and open the victim's mouth with your hand, without moving the head, to allow liquids to flow out of the body freely. Victims who are left in this position for long periods may experience nerve compression. Still, that is usually a more desirable outcome for the victim than choking to death.
Pregnant women must lie on their left side to avoid the compression of the uterus into the inferior vena cava.
If the child or the baby is unconscious but still breathing, give the same first aid as for an adult.
A victim with torso wounds should be placed with the wounded part of his body closest to the ground to minimise the possibility of blood entering the lungs, which would result in asphyxiation.
Make sure that airways are clear, stabilise the victim's position and check his breathing once every minute.
