Unconscious Casualty
Unconscious Casualty
Unconsciousness is the ‘interruption of normal activity in the brain’. It can disturb the body’s natural reflexes such as coughing and gagging.
If a casualty is lying on their back while unconscious, their airway can become blocked by the tongue or from vomit. Placing the casualty into the recovery position will prevent this from happening.
Treatment
- Place an unconscious casualty into the recovery position and call 999/112.
- Monitor the airway and breathing.
- If breathing isn’t normal such as with agonal gasps (noisy, gasping, irregular breaths or panting if they have been exercising), or breathing stops completely, start CPR.
- If you suspect the casualty has suffered a spinal injury from a fall, dive into water or head or back injury minimise movement of the neck and use a jaw thrust if trained (see Spinal Injury )
Levels of responsiveness
A casualty’s level of responsiveness can be assessed using the ACVPU scale.
- Alert – the casualty is fully alert and oriented. The casualty will be able to answer direct questions with no sign of confusion.
- Confused – The casualty can speak but is not fully aware of what is going on, may not be able to give current time/date/location.
- Voice – the casualty responds to your voice when you speak to them. But they may be confused, use inappropriate words, utter sounds rather than speak or make no verbal response.
- Pressure/pain – the casualty responds to pressure or pain, for example pinching the earlobe.
- Unresponsive – the casualty is completely unresponsive to speech and physical stimulus.
