A person who is unconscious is not sleeping.  An unconscious person is hard to rouse or can not be made aware of his or her surroundings.  Unconsciousness is caused by illness, injury, or emotional shock.  There are many levels of unconsciousness, some more serious than others. 

Let’s take a look at the levels.  Brief, this is an examples of fainting, syncope, or blacking out.  Longer, the person is incoherent when roused.  Prolonged, a person is in a coma, can be motionless and not at all aware of his or her surroundings for a very long time.  Some causes may include, certain poisoning, low body temperature (hypothermia), stroke, shock, seizures, diabetic problems, profuse bleeding, alcohol or drug abuse, head injuries, irregular heart beats, heart attacks, medications, and heart valve disease.  There are other changes in your level of awareness that can occur without becoming unconscious or before becoming unconscious.  Medically, these changes are called “altered mental status change”.  Such changes include sudden confusion, disorientation, or stupor.  Unconsciousness and any other SUDDEN change in mental status must be treated as a medical emergency. 

An unconscious person cannot cough or clear his or her throat.  This can lead to death if the airway becomes obstructed.  If you find someone unconscious, check for breathing and circulation.  If necessary, begin rescue breathing and/or CPR if they do not have a pulse.  If you suspect a spinal injury, DO NOT MOVE them.  If you are SURE they do not have a spinal injury, carefully roll them toward you onto their side.  Keep them warm until medical help arrives.  If you witness a person fainting, try to prevent him or her from falling.  Lie the person flat on the floor and elevate the feet about 12 inches.  Do not give an unconscious person any food or drink. Do not leave them alone.  Do not put a pillow under their head as this may block the airway.  Do not slap an unconscious person’s face or splash water on the face to try to revive them.

Unconscious persons need emergency care quickly.  Call 911 and request the nearest EMS service for any unconscious person.  These may be life-threatening complications and need immediate care, the person is not breathing or has no pulse.  If they do not regain consciousness quickly, within a couple minutes.  Falls from height and any serious bleeding.  Someone with diabetes, pregnant, or over 50 years old.  Any chest pain, pressure, discomfort, or pounding irregular heartbeats that become unconscious.  If prior to unconsciousness they have seizures, loss of bowel control, unable to speak, vision problems, or can not move a limb. 

If someone is awake but less alert than usual, ask a few simple questions: what is your name, what is the date, how old are you.  If the person doesn’t know or answers incorrectly, then his or her mental status is diminished.  They may have been or are about to become unconscious.  Look for medic alert information if you find a person unconscious.  It could be a bracelet, neckchain or possible in their wallet on a card or sticker on the back of a drivers license.  Any of these may identify the person’s medical condition.  Regardless, if you find someone unconscious, this is a true medical emergency, call for help.