1. UNRESPONSIVE/ SYNCOPE
UNCONSCIOUS
UNRESPONSIVE/
SYNCOPE

2. Unconscious/Unresponsive
Look for critical symptoms, not a diagnosis.
Use critical symptoms to determine your dispatch plan.

3. Unconscious/Unresponsive
Coma = a disturbance of consciousness; patient becomes unconscious & unresponsive to stimuli.
Syncope = a sudden, temporary loss of consciousness.

4. Remember the all-caller questions!
If the patient is not conscious and not breathing normally – do not delay! Get right to CPR instructions.
If the patient is breathing normally but is confirmed unconscious, send a Medic response!

5. Vital Points Interrogation
Does the patient respond to you:
Respond to your voice (can they answer your questions?)
Respond when you try to wake them?
Is this the first time today the patient has been unconscious?
What was the patient doing before they became unconscious?
Did the patient have any complaints just before he/she became unconscious?

6. Vital Points
Has the patient taken any medications, recreational drugs or alcohol?
Is the patient short of breath?
Is the patient able to speak in full sentences?
How does the patient feel when he/she sits up?

7. Vital Points
Is the patient experiencing a rapid heart rate/palpitations?
Is the patient experiencing pain/discomfort? Where?
Does the patient have any medical/surgical history?
Is the patient wearing a medic alert tag?

8. Pre-Arrival Instructions
UNCONSCIOUS/BREATHING NORMALLY-AIRWAY CONTROL (non-trauma) instructions.
If conscious now, have patient lie down.
If patient vomiting, have patient lie on side.
Do not leave patient, be prepared to do CPR.
Gather patient meds.

9. What do you do if after 2 or 3 attempts, the R/P cannot tell if the patient is breathing normally?
Now, let’s practice