Fainting
It occurs most frequently in healthy young people, especially during hot weather. It occurs on prolonged standing as in crowd or on a parade ground. People who are tired, hungry, fearful or emotionally upset faint more readily. It may occur with an emotional shock or on sight of.
The condition is diagnosed by the following features:
- The person who is about to faint feels giddy and looks pale.
- Then he collapses.
- His pulse is weak and slow
- The skin is cold and clammy
Prevention
If a person feels faint, make him bend forward at his waist, bringing the head down between the knees. Alternatively he may lie down
First aid
- Place him flat on the ground and raise his legs to improve the blood flow to his brain.
- Loosen tight clothes around his neck.
- Consciousness returns in one to two minutes.
- Give him a cup of tea of coffee after he recovers consciousness
- If he does not recover very soon, send him to hospital immediately.
