Fainting occurs when the blood supply to your brain is momentarily inadequate, causing you to lose consciousness. Loss of consciousness is usually brief. Fainting can have no medical significance, or fainting can be a symptom of a serious disorder. Therefore, treat loss of consciousness as a medical emergency until the symptoms are relieved and the cause is known.

If you feel faint:

• Lie down or sit down; if you feel dizzy or light-headed while sitting, lie down.
• Discuss recurrent fainting spells with your health care provider.

If someone else faints and slumps to the floor:

1. Position the person on his or her back.
2. Watch the airway carefully. People who lose consciousness frequently vomit.
3. Position your ear over the person’s mouth to listen for breathing sounds. Check for a pulse. If breathing and heartbeat have stopped, the problem is more serious than a fainting spell. CALL 911 Initiate cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). Get emergency medical care.
4. If the person is breathing and has a pulse, restore blood flow to the brain by raising the person’s legs above the level of the head. A pillow or stack of books is good. Loosen belts, collars or other constrictive clothing. The person should revive quickly. If the person does not regain consciousness in 1 to 2 minutes, call 911 in the U.S. & Canada. (For other countries, see our First Aid page.)