How to handle someone who faints at a festival.
Quickly loosen their clothing, apply cool compresses to lower their body temperature, and then move the patient.
Increased heart rate, low blood pressure, rapid breathing, and loss of consciousness can cause victims to faint when suffering from heatstroke.
According to Dr. Pham Thi Dung from the Institute of Traditional Medicine in Ho Chi Minh City, fainting and syncope are two different concepts. Syncope is a state of incomplete loss of consciousness; the patient may still hear and be aware of their surroundings. Syncope is a sudden loss of consciousness; the patient is completely unaware of their surroundings.
There are many reasons for fainting at festivals, especially in hot weather and crowded spaces. The elderly and children are at risk from straining, jostling, and standing for long periods, especially those with pre-existing heart conditions or high blood pressure.
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Many people were crowded together and fainted while on the New Year's pilgrimage. Photo:Hoang Viet |
What to do when someone faints.
First aid should be administered. Position the patient with their head lower than their feet, offer aromatherapy essential oils, and loosen tight clothing or other constricting areas. Place cool, damp cloths or ice packs on areas such as the armpits, groin, and sides of the neck to help quickly reduce body temperature. The head should be turned to one side to prevent the tongue from falling into the throat or vomit from being inhaled into the lungs.
If the victim can drink, give them small sips of cool water. Ideally, give them water fortified with salt and minerals, such as Oresol solution prepared according to the instructions. If the victim is experiencing muscle cramps, gently massage the affected muscle area.
If the victim has a lower-than-normal body temperature, cover them with a warm blanket and call an ambulance to take them to the hospital for further treatment. Keep the victim away from crowds. After about 10-15 minutes, the symptoms will gradually subside.
In severe cases, immediately call emergency services (115) or quickly transport the victim to the nearest medical facility. During transport, apply cool compresses frequently to reduce body temperature.
