Unconsciousness - first aid

Injury	Disease	Nutrition	Poison

Symptoms	Surgery	Test	Special Topic

Recovery position - series

Overview

Symptoms

Treatment

Prevention

Unconsciousness - first aid

Alternative Names:

Loss of consciousness - first aid; Coma - first aid; Mental status change; Altered mental status

Symptoms:

Unresponsiveness (does not awaken when spoken to, touched, or otherwise stimulated)
Unconsciousness may be brief and temporary (fainting) or prolonged
Disorientation
Light-headedness
Palpitations
Headache
Drowsiness
Stupor

References:

Marx JA, Hockberger RS, Walls RM, eds. Rosen’s Emergency Medicine: Concepts and Clinical Practice. 5^th Ed. St. Louis, MO: Mosby; 2002.

Noble J, ed. Textbook of Primary Care Medicine. 3^rd Ed. St. Louis, MO: Mosby; 2001.

Auerbach PS. Wilderness Medicine. 4^th Ed. St. Louis, MO: Mosby; 2001.

Review Date: 4/8/2005
Reviewed By: William D. Whetstone M.D., Division of Emergency Medicine, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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