Unconsciousness is when a person is breathing, but they cannot be woken from what looks like a sleep, they are unaware of their surroundings, and no purposeful response can be obtained.

Signs and symptoms

• Does not respond, cannot answer you or wake up but is breathing

• A casualty showing only a minor response, such as groaning without opening their eyes, should be treated as being unconscious

First aid

• Assess response, e.g. (talk and touch) “open your eyes”, “squeeze my hand”, grasp and squeeze the shoulders firmly to try to get a response

• Call an ambulance

• Open the airway and check for breathing, (breathing or not breathing normally)

• Turn onto their side, keep airway open

• Control any bleeding and other injuries if required

• Monitor for changes in condition