For a victim with reduced consciousness, several critical measures apply to ensure their safety and proper care:
- Assess Responsiveness and Airway, Breathing, Circulation (ABCs): Check if the victim responds to verbal or painful stimuli. If unresponsive, immediately assess airway patency, breathing quality, and circulation status. If pulse or breathing is absent or irregular, initiate basic or advanced life support
- Protect the Airway: Because reduced consciousness impairs protective reflexes, the victim is at high risk of airway obstruction and aspiration. Positioning the victim on their side (recovery position) helps keep the airway clear of saliva or vomit
- Rapid Medical Evaluation: Reduced consciousness is a medical emergency. Prompt diagnosis and treatment are essential, especially if the cause is unknown or acute neurological deficits are present. Admission to a resuscitation area may be necessary
- Use of Objective Scales: Tools like the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) or Full Outline of UnResponsiveness (FOUR) score help quantify the level of consciousness, guide treatment, and predict prognosis
- Avoid Delays in Transport: Emergency Medical Services (EMS) protocols emphasize not delaying transport to appropriate hospitals and requesting advanced life support when available
- Monitor Continuously: The victim requires close observation for changes in consciousness, breathing, and other vital signs, with documentation of responsiveness to stimuli
- Legal and Ethical Considerations: For patients unable to make decisions due to impaired consciousness, treatment decisions may involve clinicians, advance directives, health attorneys, or courts, especially regarding life-sustaining treatments
In summary, victims with reduced consciousness require immediate airway management, continuous monitoring, rapid transport for medical evaluation, and use of standardized assessment tools to guide care and prognosis
