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How to Handle Assess Level of Consciousness During First Aid Step by Step

When assess level of consciousness during first aid leaves you confused, worried, or unsure what it means, a clear step-by-step approach can help you sort the signal from the stress. This guide explains how to understand the situation, reflect on what matters, choose a practical next step, and know when to ask for trusted support.

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Part 1

Assessing Consciousness Level in a Responsive Person

Recognize signs of when a person may be losing consciousness.

These include:

These include:
These include:
These include:
These include:
These include:

Ask the person questions.

A series of questions will immediately give you a lot of information regarding the person’s state. The questions should be easy while still requiring a level of basic cognition. Begin by asking the person if he’s all right to see if he’s responsive at all. If the person responds or even groans to show that he’s not unconscious, try asking: Jorge Humberto Mena MD, Alvaro I Sanchez MD, Andres Rubiano MD, Effects of the Modified Glascow Coma School Scale Score, Journal of Trauma, 2011 Nov 71 (5) 1185-1193

A series of questions will immediately give you a lot of information regarding the person’s state.
The questions should be easy while still requiring a level of basic cognition.
Begin by asking the person if he’s all right to see if he’s responsive at all.
If the person responds or even groans to show that he’s not unconscious, try asking: Jorge Humberto Mena MD, Alvaro I Sanchez MD, Andres Rubiano MD, Effects of the Modified Glascow Coma School Scale Score, Journal of Trauma, 2011 Nov 71 (5) 1185-1193
A series of questions will immediately give you a lot of information regarding the person’s state.

Call 911.

If the person is conscious but showing signs of an altered mental state (such as being unable to clearly answer simple questions), then you should call 911 immediately.

If the person is conscious but showing signs of an altered mental state (such as being unable to clearly answer simple questions), then you should call 911 immediately.
If the person is conscious but showing signs of an altered mental state (such as being unable to clearly answer simple questions), then you should call 911 immediately.
If the person is conscious but showing signs of an altered mental state (such as being unable to clearly answer simple questions), then you should call 911 immediately.
If the person is conscious but showing signs of an altered mental state (such as being unable to clearly answer simple questions), then you should call 911 immediately.
If the person is conscious but showing signs of an altered mental state (such as being unable to clearly answer simple questions), then you should call 911 immediately.

Ask follow-up questions.

This is useful to see if you can gather any clues as to what caused the person to either pass out or have a diminishing level of consciousness. The person may or may not be able to answer any of these, depending upon their level of consciousness and how responsive they are. Try asking: Jorge Humberto Mena MD, Alvaro I Sanchez MD, Andres Rubiano MD, Effects of the Modified Glascow Coma School Scale Score, Journal of Trauma, 2011 Nov 71 (5) 1185-1193

This is useful to see if you can gather any clues as to what caused the person to either pass out or have a diminishing level of consciousness.
The person may or may not be able to answer any of these, depending upon their level of consciousness and how responsive they are.
Try asking: Jorge Humberto Mena MD, Alvaro I Sanchez MD, Andres Rubiano MD, Effects of the Modified Glascow Coma School Scale Score, Journal of Trauma, 2011 Nov 71 (5) 1185-1193
This is useful to see if you can gather any clues as to what caused the person to either pass out or have a diminishing level of consciousness.
The person may or may not be able to answer any of these, depending upon their level of consciousness and how responsive they are.

Keep track of all the person’s answers.

The person’s answers—whether logical or nonsense—will help the emergency responders determine the best course of action. Write everything down if you need to in order to pass along the information just as the person communicated it.

The person’s answers—whether logical or nonsense—will help the emergency responders determine the best course of action.
Write everything down if you need to in order to pass along the information just as the person communicated it.
The person’s answers—whether logical or nonsense—will help the emergency responders determine the best course of action.
Write everything down if you need to in order to pass along the information just as the person communicated it.
The person’s answers—whether logical or nonsense—will help the emergency responders determine the best course of action.

Be aware of other common causes of unconsciousness.

If you know the person or witnessed her "pass out," you may be able to provide emergency medical staff with clues as to the diagnosis or "cause" of unconsciousness. Common causes of diminished consciousness or loss of consciousness include:

If you know the person or witnessed her "pass out," you may be able to provide emergency medical staff with clues as to the diagnosis or "cause" of unconsciousness.
Common causes of diminished consciousness or loss of consciousness include:
If you know the person or witnessed her "pass out," you may be able to provide emergency medical staff with clues as to the diagnosis or "cause" of unconsciousness.
Common causes of diminished consciousness or loss of consciousness include:
If you know the person or witnessed her "pass out," you may be able to provide emergency medical staff with clues as to the diagnosis or "cause" of unconsciousness.

Check the person for a medical alert necklace or bracelet.

In the event of many medical conditions—such as diabetes—the person may wear something like this to inform the condition to responders.

In the event of many medical conditions—such as diabetes—the person may wear something like this to inform the condition to responders.
In the event of many medical conditions—such as diabetes—the person may wear something like this to inform the condition to responders.
In the event of many medical conditions—such as diabetes—the person may wear something like this to inform the condition to responders.
In the event of many medical conditions—such as diabetes—the person may wear something like this to inform the condition to responders.
In the event of many medical conditions—such as diabetes—the person may wear something like this to inform the condition to responders.

Monitor the person until emergency medical personnel arrive.

It is important to have someone watching over the patient at all times.

It is important to have someone watching over the patient at all times.
It is important to have someone watching over the patient at all times.
It is important to have someone watching over the patient at all times.
It is important to have someone watching over the patient at all times.
It is important to have someone watching over the patient at all times.

Part 2

Assessing an Unresponsive Person

Administer painful stimuli.

If the person is unresponsive to your questions, but you are not sure whether they are "unconscious" to the degree that requires CPR, do not administer a painful stimulus to see if it produces a conscious reaction. Graham Teasdale, Paul Brennan, Forty Years: An Update on the Glascow Coma Scale, Nursing Times Oct 2014 110 42 p12-16

If the person is unresponsive to your questions, but you are not sure whether they are "unconscious" to the degree that requires CPR, do not administer a painful stimulus to see if it produces a conscious reaction.
Graham Teasdale, Paul Brennan, Forty Years: An Update on the Glascow Coma Scale, Nursing Times Oct 2014 110 42 p12-16
If the person is unresponsive to your questions, but you are not sure whether they are "unconscious" to the degree that requires CPR, do not administer a painful stimulus to see if it produces a conscious reaction.
Graham Teasdale, Paul Brennan, Forty Years: An Update on the Glascow Coma Scale, Nursing Times Oct 2014 110 42 p12-16
If the person is unresponsive to your questions, but you are not sure whether they are "unconscious" to the degree that requires CPR, do not administer a painful stimulus to see if it produces a conscious reaction.

Check if the person is breathing.

If the person is unconscious but breathing, then you may not have to perform CPR, especially if no one around is certified in the practice.

If the person is unconscious but breathing, then you may not have to perform CPR, especially if no one around is certified in the practice.
If the person is unconscious but breathing, then you may not have to perform CPR, especially if no one around is certified in the practice.
If the person is unconscious but breathing, then you may not have to perform CPR, especially if no one around is certified in the practice.
If the person is unconscious but breathing, then you may not have to perform CPR, especially if no one around is certified in the practice.
If the person is unconscious but breathing, then you may not have to perform CPR, especially if no one around is certified in the practice.

Check for a pulse.

You can check the person's pulse on the underside of her wrist on the thumb side — called the "radial pulse," or by gently feeling one side of their neck about an inch below their ear — called the "carotid pulse." Always check the carotid pulse on the same side of the body on which you are sitting. Reaching across the neck of a patient for their pulse can cause panic if they wake up.

You can check the person's pulse on the underside of her wrist on the thumb side — called the "radial pulse," or by gently feeling one side of their neck about an inch below their ear — called the "carotid pulse." Always check the carotid pulse on the same side of the body on which you are sitting.
Reaching across the neck of a patient for their pulse can cause panic if they wake up.
You can check the person's pulse on the underside of her wrist on the thumb side — called the "radial pulse," or by gently feeling one side of their neck about an inch below their ear — called the "carotid pulse." Always check the carotid pulse on the same side of the body on which you are sitting.
Reaching across the neck of a patient for their pulse can cause panic if they wake up.
You can check the person's pulse on the underside of her wrist on the thumb side — called the "radial pulse," or by gently feeling one side of their neck about an inch below their ear — called the "carotid pulse." Always check the carotid pulse on the same side of the body on which you are sitting.

Part 3

Giving CPR to a Person Without a Pulse

Check the person’s airway.

If the person isn’t breathing or has stopped breathing, then the first step is to check their airway. Place one hand on their forehead and the other underneath their jaw. With the forehead hand, slide their head backward and tilt their jaw with the other hand. Watch for any signs of their chest beginning to rise and fall. Place your ear over their mouth and feel for any breath on your face.

If the person isn’t breathing or has stopped breathing, then the first step is to check their airway.
Place one hand on their forehead and the other underneath their jaw.
With the forehead hand, slide their head backward and tilt their jaw with the other hand.
Watch for any signs of their chest beginning to rise and fall.
Place your ear over their mouth and feel for any breath on your face.

Perform chest compressions.

Current CPR standards place the emphasis on chest compressions with a ratio of thirty compressions for every two rescue breaths. Begin chest compressions by:

Current CPR standards place the emphasis on chest compressions with a ratio of thirty compressions for every two rescue breaths.
Begin chest compressions by:
Current CPR standards place the emphasis on chest compressions with a ratio of thirty compressions for every two rescue breaths.
Begin chest compressions by:
Current CPR standards place the emphasis on chest compressions with a ratio of thirty compressions for every two rescue breaths.

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