campusflava

Tuesday, June 11, 2013

How to Faint Safely

Okay, you can fake a faint, but when you're NOT faking and you feel about to go down, here are some tips to make sure you do it safely, and, if something's wrong, get help.

N.B Visit www.campusflava.com for latest updates 

 Steps

    1
    Know when you really do need to observe the following steps. That means, know when you really might faint. Before they pass out, someone will usually feel like the lights are being dimmed, feel lightheaded and dizzy, and hear things in a blur. If you notice these, sit down and lower your head way down between your knees. Sit like this for a minute, and if the lightheartedness goes away, still wait a minute before you get back up.
    2
    If you can, tell someone to go get help before you do lose consciousness. Passing out can be dangerous sometimes, so it's best to get help before you go under.
    3
    Sometimes a fainting episode can be very sudden and come on without warning, before you can get help and to a chair. If that's the case and you can feel yourself going under, get to your knees, or, even better, straight onto the ground, lying down. This helps avoid being injured when you fall, which only complicates the situation.
    4
    If lying down is not an option and there is nowhere to kneel, say you're in a crowded hallway, you may have to experience a classic faint. The truth is, a person is under before they fall. They faint in the last few seconds that they are standing for, and since an unconscious person has no control over the extremities, their legs give out and they hit the floor. If this is the case, get to the edge of the crowd, but not too far away, since you want someone to call 911 or give you CPR when they see you go down, but on the flip side, you don't want to take everyone else down with you. If possible, ask people nicely, "Hey, you might wanna step away, I feel like I'm gonna pass out." Not only will they get the cue, you may get somebody to catch you, thus preventing further injury.
    5
    If you are going to faint inevitably from a standing position with no one to catch you, look for a wall. Sure, you'll get a bruise after you smack the locker with your face, but you will feel little to none of it and it's better than breaking your arm on the floor. Or, look for anything soft to catch you.
    6
    If you can't get to the wall, lean slightly backwards. Landing on your back protects your ribs, face and more. When your body does give out, the direction most of your weight was pointed towards (backwards) is the way you'll be falling.
    7
    Stairs are a scary place to faint, but you just might sometime. If the flight is long and you're in the middle of the staircase, get to a railing on the inside. That means, from where you are standing, you are closer to a wall and not the side where you look down and see the stairs below. Hold onto that rail, and when you fall, you will only slide a foot or two, since you'll be sideways. To do that, let yourself dangle a bit and follow the angle of the rail. If you're stuck in the middle on a smaller flight, it may be okay to let yourself take the rest falling, only if you're prepared to be injured afterwards, in terms of a broken bone. If not, or if you're on a really long flight, go backwards and bend at your hips. You may fall sitting down, your best bet, or at least land still and not slide down the rest.
    8
    If you are alone, you might open your eyes to just find yourself on the ground where you fell. Check yourself for injuries, and get to a place where you can lie down. Don't get up until morning. Tell your spouse/parent/anybody you live with what happened. The exception is a young child, under 8. With them, or if you live alone, call someone and tell them you fainted and see if they will drive you to a doctor. Don't take yourself unless you must, you don't know if you could faint again behind the wheel.
    9
    Remove yourself from the situation, think of something else & let someone (even if it is a stranger) know that you are feeling faint.

 Tips

    Whenever possible, get to a doctor or call EMS BEFORE you faint.If you are at school, alert your teacher. They will be able to call the nurse.
    Don't sit up too quickly after fainting. Your brain is already dealing with a lack of blood.
    Try to ask somebody to catch before you faint as they could get help.
    Call your teacher if you are going to a class after you fainted so that person can call 911 or 000.
    If you can find a cold floor like the bathroom or kitchen and lift your top up and lay on the cold ground with your bare back. I'm not sure if its medically proven but it has prevented me from fainting.

Warnings

    If you are driving when you start to feel faint pull over a safe place.
    ALWAYS see a doctor afterwards. Even if you weren't hurt, you need a medical exam to see if there's a reason behind your fainting.
    If you have other symptoms--headache, back pain, chest pain, shortness of breath, abdominal pain, weakness,or loss of function seek medical help immediately.

No comments: