First aid: What to do if someone faints near you

Would you know what to do incase the person next to you faints?

A common cause of fainting is a sudden reduction of blood flow to the brain, which results from a temporary drop in blood pressure and pulse rate.

This leads to a brief loss of consciousness. A fainting victim may pass out for several seconds or up to 30 minutes.

Below are tips that can help you save a life in case someone faints near you.

If there are no injuries and the person is breathing, raise the person's legs above heart level if possible. Prop up the person's legs about 12 inches (30 centimeters), loosen their belts and collars or other tight clothing, and create room for more circulation of air.

The recovery position is used when someone has fainted or is unconscious but still breathing.

The position involves getting somebody on their side and tilting their heads back. Doing this allows the person to safely breath and vomit without choking.

To reduce the chance of fainting again, don't get the person up too fast. If the person doesn't regain consciousness within one minute, call for help because  it could be something nore serious than just fainting.

Check for a pulse and to see if the person is breathing. If the person is not breathing, and unresponsive, call for help and begin CPR. Continue CPR until help arrives or the person begins to breathe.

Fainting might have no medical implication. Or the cause can be a serious illness, occasionally involving the heart. Consequently, treat loss of consciousness as a medical emergency until the symptoms are relieved and the cause is known.

Talk to a doctor if you faint more than once. If you feel like you’re about to faint, lie down or take a seat. To reduce the chance of fainting again, don't get up too quickly, and place your head between your knees when you sit down.