If someone passes out near you, the most important thing to do right away is lower them safely to the ground (or keep them there), check that they’re breathing, and position them so their airway stays clear. Most fainting episodes resolve on their own within a minute. If the person doesn’t wake up within one minute, call 911.
Check for Breathing and Responsiveness
The first few seconds matter most. Tap the person on the shoulder and speak loudly: “Are you okay?” The American Red Cross recommends spending no more than 10 seconds on this initial check. While you’re trying to get a response, watch their chest for rise and fall, and look for any life-threatening bleeding or injuries from the fall itself.
If they’re breathing normally, you can move to positioning them safely. If they are not breathing or you can’t detect a pulse, call 911 immediately and begin CPR. Chest compressions should continue until emergency help arrives or the person starts breathing again. If the person lost consciousness while choking, CPR chest compressions can also help dislodge whatever is blocking their airway.
How to Position Them
If the person fainted and is breathing normally with no sign of injury, lay them on their back and raise their legs above heart level. This helps blood flow back to the brain, which is almost always the core problem during a faint. Propping their legs on a chair, a bag, or even your own knees works fine.
If the person doesn’t wake up quickly or you’re concerned they might vomit, roll them onto their side into what’s called the recovery position. This keeps their airway open and prevents them from choking. To do it: carefully roll the person toward you, bend their top leg so the hip and knee are both at right angles (like a kickstand keeping them stable), and gently tilt their head back slightly to keep the airway clear.
If you suspect a spinal injury, for instance if they fell from a height or hit their head hard, leave them where they are as long as they’re still breathing. Moving someone with a spinal injury can cause serious harm. If they vomit in this situation, roll their entire body at once, supporting the neck and back so the head and spine stay aligned.
What Not to Do
Don’t try to wake someone up by slapping their face, shaking them, or splashing water on them. These don’t help and can cause injury. Smelling salts, while still occasionally seen in sports, are discouraged by sports medicine guidelines because they trigger a jerking withdrawal reaction that could worsen a neck or spine injury. The bigger risk with smelling salts is that they substitute for an actual medical assessment and can delay real treatment.
Don’t try to give an unconscious person food or water. They can’t swallow safely and could choke. Don’t put anything in their mouth. And don’t try to hold them down if their body is twitching, just make sure they’re in a safe position and wait for the episode to pass.
When to Call 911
Call emergency services if the person:
- Doesn’t regain consciousness within one minute
- Is not breathing or has no pulse
- Fell and hit their head, or you suspect a spinal injury
- Is pregnant, has diabetes, or has a known heart condition
- Has chest pain, an irregular heartbeat, or difficulty breathing after waking up
- Is confused or unable to speak clearly after coming to
A simple faint typically resolves in under 30 seconds. Anything lasting longer than a minute is a reason to get professional help involved.
After They Wake Up
Once the person regains consciousness, don’t let them jump right back up. Have them stay lying down or sitting for several minutes. Standing too quickly can cause a second faint because blood pressure hasn’t fully stabilized yet. Loosen any tight clothing around their neck or chest. If the environment is hot or stuffy, move them somewhere cooler or improve airflow. Once they feel steady and alert, small sips of water are fine.
Why People Pass Out
Nearly half of all fainting episodes are vasovagal syncope, the “common faint.” This happens when a sudden trigger, like standing too long, seeing blood, extreme heat, or strong emotion, causes a drop in heart rate and blood pressure. Blood flow to the brain briefly dips below what’s needed, and consciousness shuts off like a circuit breaker. It’s the body’s most common form of fainting and is generally harmless.
Other frequent causes include dehydration, which reduces blood volume and makes it harder for the heart to push enough blood to the brain. Low blood sugar can also cause someone to lose consciousness, though it typically comes with warning signs like sweating, shakiness, and irritability beforehand. Some medications, particularly those that lower blood pressure, can trigger fainting when a person stands up too fast. This is called orthostatic hypotension.
Fainting vs. Seizure vs. Cardiac Arrest
These three events can look similar to a bystander, but they require different responses. Knowing the differences helps you react appropriately.
A simple faint usually lasts under 30 seconds. The person goes limp, their skin may look pale, and they recover quickly once they’re lying flat. Sometimes a faint includes brief muscle jerks or twitching after the person loses consciousness. This is called convulsive syncope, and even though it looks alarming, it’s not a seizure. The jerking movements are typically fewer than 10 per episode and aren’t symmetrical on both sides of the body. The person may feel nauseous and tired afterward but otherwise recovers normally.
A seizure tends to involve rhythmic, sustained convulsions, sometimes with behavior changes, a strange smell, or a sense of déjà vu just before it starts. Seizures often last longer than a faint and the person may be confused for an extended period afterward. The first aid approach is similar: protect them from injury, don’t restrain them, and call for help if it lasts more than a few minutes or if it’s their first seizure.
Cardiac arrest is the most dangerous scenario. The person will be unresponsive, not breathing, and have no pulse. This requires immediate CPR and a call to 911. Every second counts. If an automated external defibrillator (AED) is nearby, use it as soon as possible.