How can I help if someone is unconscious?

What does it mean to be unconscious?

• Someone does not respond when you talk to them
• It’s like they are asleep but it is not easy to wake them up
• “Knocked out” / “blacked out”

Why might someone be unconscious AND breathing?

• Blood loss
• Fainting
• Taking drugs
• Having a fit
• Choking
• Drinking alcohol

How do you tell if someone is unconscious AND breathing?

Visual checks

• Chest moving
• Face is their normal colour

Physical checks

• Floppy arms and legs

What do you do if someone is unconscious and breathing?

1. Check they are breathing
2. Call an ambulance (999)
3. Put them in the recovery position

Key steps of the recovery position:

• Put them on their side
• Do the chin lift

Why might someone be unconscious and NOT breathing?

• Heart attack
• Severe bleeding
• Hypothermia
• Stroke
• Head injury
• Choking

How do you tell if someone is unconscious and NOT breathing?

Visual checks:

• Pale/grey/blue colour in their face
• Chest not moving

Physical checks:

• Not responding or talking
• Floppy all over

What do you do if someone is unconscious and NOT breathing?

1. Call an ambulance
2. Keep yourself safe
3. Chest compressions
4. Stay with them until the ambulance arrives

Chest compressions:

• Interlock hands
• Place hands in centre of chest
• Keep arms straight
• Push up and down in the middle of the chest…
• …at a rate of 100-120 per min

Keep going until someone is ready to take over or the person wakes up