Practical Answers for Everyday Independence

What to Do When Someone Is Unconscious – QG

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Category: Health & Safety

⚡ What to Do When Someone Is Unconscious

An unconscious person cannot respond normally to voices or touch. The cause may be cardiac arrest, overdose, fainting, low blood sugar, seizure, head injury, stroke, poisoning, heat illness, or another serious medical condition.

Treat unexplained unconsciousness as an emergency.

Make Sure the Scene Is Safe

Before approaching, look for:

  • Traffic
  • Fire or smoke
  • Electrical hazards
  • Chemicals
  • Drug residue or needles
  • Violence
  • Water
  • Falling objects
  • An unstable structure

Do not enter an unsafe area. Call 911 and wait for trained responders.

Check for a Response

  • Call the person’s name loudly.
  • Tap an adult’s shoulder firmly.
  • Ask, “Are you okay?”
  • Look for purposeful movement or a verbal response.

Do not slap the person, pour water on them, or shake them aggressively. Never shake an infant or young child.

Call 911

If the person does not respond:

  • Call 911 immediately.
  • Put the phone on speaker.
  • Send someone to get an AED.
  • Send someone to get naloxone if an opioid overdose is possible.
  • Follow the dispatcher’s instructions.

Tell the dispatcher:

  • Your location
  • That the person is unconscious
  • Whether they are breathing normally
  • Whether an injury, overdose, seizure, or medical condition may be involved
  • What help is already being provided

Do not delay the call while trying to determine exactly what happened.

Check Breathing

Place the person on their back on a firm, flat surface when it is safe to do so.

Look for normal breathing for no more than 10 seconds.

  • Watch for the chest to rise.
  • Listen for air movement.
  • Notice whether breathing is regular.

Gasping, snorting, gurgling, or occasional irregular breaths are not normal breathing.

If the Person Is Not Breathing Normally

  • Begin CPR immediately.
  • Push hard and fast in the center of the chest.
  • Give 100 to 120 compressions per minute.
  • Use an AED as soon as it arrives.
  • Follow the AED’s voice prompts.
  • Give naloxone if an opioid overdose may be involved.
  • Continue until emergency responders take over or the person begins breathing normally.

If you are trained in conventional CPR, provide 30 compressions followed by 2 breaths.

If the Person Is Breathing Normally

If no serious head, neck, back, hip, or other major injury is suspected:

  1. Roll the person onto their side.
  2. Position the upper leg to keep them stable.
  3. Angle the face downward.
  4. Keep the airway open.
  5. Continue checking their breathing.
  6. Keep them warm.
  7. Stay until help arrives.

This recovery position can help prevent choking if the person vomits.

Do not use the recovery position if moving the person may worsen a spinal injury unless they are vomiting, cannot breathe safely, or remaining on their back creates a greater immediate danger.

If a Head, Neck, or Back Injury Is Possible

Suspect a serious injury after:

  • A fall
  • A vehicle crash
  • A sports collision
  • A blow to the head
  • Diving
  • An assault
  • An unknown event that caused unconsciousness

Do not move the person unless:

  • The location is immediately dangerous.
  • They need CPR.
  • They are vomiting and cannot breathe safely.
  • You must reposition them to keep the airway open.

Keep the head and neck as still as possible and follow the 911 dispatcher’s instructions.

If an Overdose May Be Involved

Possible opioid-overdose signs include:

  • The person cannot be awakened.
  • Breathing is slow, irregular, or stopped.
  • Lips or fingertips appear blue, gray, or extremely pale.
  • The person makes choking, gurgling, or unusual snoring sounds.
  • Pupils are extremely small.
  • The body is limp.

If opioids may be involved:

  1. Call 911.
  2. Give naloxone.
  3. Support breathing with CPR or rescue breathing.
  4. Give another naloxone dose after the product’s recommended interval if needed.
  5. Stay with the person.

Naloxone may wear off before the opioid does. Emergency care is still required even if the person wakes up.

If the Person Has a Seizure

  • Move nearby objects away.
  • Protect the person’s head with something soft.
  • Do not restrain them.
  • Do not place anything in their mouth.
  • Do not give food, water, or medication.
  • Time the seizure.
  • After the movements stop, check breathing.
  • Place the person on their side if they are breathing normally and no major injury is suspected.

Call 911 if:

  • The seizure lasts five minutes or longer.
  • Another seizure begins before the person recovers.
  • The person has difficulty breathing.
  • The person is injured.
  • The seizure occurred in water.
  • This is the person’s first known seizure.
  • The person is pregnant or has diabetes.
  • The person does not begin regaining awareness.

If Low Blood Sugar May Be Involved

Low blood sugar can cause confusion, seizures, or unconsciousness.

If the person is unconscious:

  • Do not give food, drinks, glucose gel, or pills by mouth.
  • Call 911.
  • Give prescribed glucagon if it is available and you know how to use it.
  • Place the person on their side if they are breathing normally and no major injury is suspected.
  • Monitor breathing.

Do not put anything in an unconscious person’s mouth. They may choke.

If Poisoning May Be Involved

  • Call 911 for unconsciousness or breathing problems.
  • Move away from fumes, chemicals, or dangerous substances.
  • Do not expose yourself.
  • Do not make the person vomit.
  • Do not give food, drinks, or home remedies.
  • Save containers or labels for responders when it is safe.

For a possible poisoning without immediate emergency symptoms, call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222.

If the Person Begins Waking Up

  • Keep them lying down or seated safely.
  • Speak calmly.
  • Do not allow them to stand suddenly.
  • Do not give food, drink, medication, alcohol, or drugs.
  • Ask what happened.
  • Check for pain or injury.
  • Keep them warm.
  • Do not let them drive.
  • Continue monitoring until emergency professionals arrive.

Someone who regains consciousness may still have a serious medical problem.

Do Not

  • Leave the person alone.
  • Assume they are sleeping.
  • Give food or drinks.
  • Put medication in their mouth.
  • Make them vomit.
  • Put them in a shower or bath.
  • Make them walk.
  • Place a pillow under their head if CPR is needed.
  • Move them unnecessarily after a possible spinal injury.
  • Allow them to drive after waking.
  • Delay calling 911.

Quick Unconscious-Person Checklist

  • Make sure the scene is safe.
  • Check for a response.
  • Call 911.
  • Send someone for an AED.
  • Check breathing for no more than 10 seconds.
  • Begin CPR if breathing is not normal.
  • Use an AED as soon as possible.
  • Give naloxone if opioid overdose is possible.
  • Place a normally breathing person on their side when appropriate.
  • Keep the person warm.
  • Do not give anything by mouth.
  • Monitor breathing until help arrives.

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Important Health & Safety Notice

The information in this guide is provided for general educational purposes only. Independence Answers is not a medical provider, and this content is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, treatment, or supervision. Always follow the instructions of your doctor, pharmacist, or other qualified healthcare professional, especially if you have a medical condition, take medication, or are unsure whether an action is safe for you.

Do not ignore or delay seeking professional care because of something you read here. If you believe someone may be experiencing a serious or life-threatening emergency, call 911 or your local emergency number immediately.