In the helplessness of an unconscious patient, the chaos of an unexpected scenario easily ensues. Whether you are a passerby on a busy street, or a healthcare worker in an emergency setting, knowing what to do can mean the difference between life and death.
This guide is here to dispel the panic, providing simple, clear how-tos for keeping an unconscious person safe and delivering prompt care.
Introduction
Now, picture yourself strolling through a park and suddenly stumbling upon someone who appears to have collapsed. When every second matters in that window. How you answer might determine whether they survive.
So here’s the article poking through the article on how, if you ever face the scenario of being responsible for taking care of an [unconscious person] in public, the steps you need to take (with some practical advice for both medical professionals and Good Samaritans).
10 Steps for Caring an Unconscious Patient
Understand the sequential process of treating unconscious patients through maintaining their airway and monitoring vital signs as well as ensuring safe positioning.
We want to provide you with the information necessary so that you can react decisively and effectively in these situations.
#1. Assess the Scene: What First? Safety.
Before rushing to help an unresponsive individual, it’s important to assess the surroundings to spot any potential hazards.
Identifying Hazards
- Break on Safety for the victim and yourself.
- Be on the lookout for traffic, electrical hazards or hazardous materials that may be a threat.
Tip: Be especially careful if the area is unsafe and don’t move the patient unless it’s absolutely necessary. Instead, contact emergency services for instructions.
#2. Assess Responsiveness: Are They Really Unconscious?
Once the scene is secure, the question is whether the person needs immediate intervention.
Approach and Assess
- Take their shoulders gently and shout at them: “Are you all right?
- Cue sounds of movement or speech. Unresponse indicates actual unconsciousness.
Assess, don’t assume. “When you act on very specific and precise information, you are able to get better results.”
#3. Call: If you are trained in dealing with such emergencies, dial the emergency services
After confirming that the person is unresponsive, it’s time to summon professional help.
Making the Call
- Call your local emergency number right away, giving dispatchers information about the whereabouts and condition of the patient.
- If there are others, have someone else make the call so you can move on to other important steps.
#4. Open the Airway: Let Clear, Look Clear
An unconscious person may have blocked air flow, so it’s very important to make sure the airway is clear.
Opening method of airway
- Open airway with the head-tilt, chin-lift method.
- Check for obstructions like the tongue or foreign bodies.
# 5. Look, Listen and Feel to Check Breathing
The next thing you assess is whether or not the patient is breathing effectively.
Evaluating Breathing
- You can climb your ear close to the patient’s mouth to listen for breath sounds and feel for air on your cheek.
- Observe for rise and fall of chest to ensure breathing.
Note: If the patient isn’t breathing or is only gasping, get ready to perform CPR.
#6. Perform CPR: The Life-Saving Tactic
If you conclude that the patient isn’t breathing, immediately start cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR)).
Basic CPR Steps
- Put your hands in the center of the chest and start compressions at a rate of 100 to 120 per minute.
- After every 30 compressions, if trained to do so, give two rescue breaths.
This step is critical and could make the difference between life and death — do it until emergency services (or someone more skilled) arrive.
#7. Treatment First Aid: Stabilization Techniques
If the patient is breathing but unresponsive, first aid supports them and keeps them stable.
Key First Aid Measures
- Lay the person down in the recovery position to keep the airway open and avoid choking if the person vomits.
- Watch for changes in their condition, such as changes in breathing or consciousness.
#8. Provide Comfort and Reassurance: Human Communication
Coming to from unconsciousness is disorienting. Once the patient regains consciousness, give comfort.
Speaking to the Patient
- Use a calm, reassuring tone to explain what happened.
- Keep them as still as possible until professional medical help arrives.
#9. Hand Over to Professionals: Collaborative Care
When rescue personnel arrive, they will assume responsibility for caring for the victim.
Sharing Information
- Concisely describe what you’ve noticed, what you’ve done, and what you’ve found in regards to the patient’s condition.
- This exchange allows care to be smoothly continued.
In crisis, teamwork is crucial. Everything that you tell me makes it more likely that the patient recovers.”
#10. Reflect and Learn: Growing from Experience
Once the issue has passed, take a moment to reflect on what happened and what you learned. Keep up-to-date with your first aid training.
Individual Development and Readiness
- Take a first aid course and volunteer your time
- Tell other people about your experience to help raise awareness about the need for preparedness.
Conclusion
How to treat an unconscious patient patient when you see one requires thinking fast, traveling clear and a calm demeanor Although these steps may feel overwhelming, they are important actions that anyone can take in order to save a life.
We can all make for a safer, more responsive community by being better prepared. Remember that you are not just a spectator in these moments — you are a lifeline.
