1. The Fainting Friend
When a friend or teammate faints, it can be a scary situation. Although fainting can be a symptom of something serious, most people who faint during sports or strenuous activity can be easily roused. Dehydration, heat exhaustion, low blood sugar or low blood pressure can all cause your friend to faint. The use of cocaine, marijuana or alcohol can also contribute to fainting. Fainting occurs when the blood supply and oxygen to the brain is suddenly shut down. Low blood pressure can cause your teammate to faint if he rises too fast from a sitting or lying position. Breathing too hard causes hyperventilation, where the need for oxygen surpasses the body's ability to supply it and can cause someone to faint. If your teammate has fainted after being injured, it could be a medical emergency that requires emergency medical care.
2. Cue the Circulation
If your teammate has fainted, position her on the ground with her legs elevated. Elevate the legs about 12 inches higher than her head to improve blood flow to the brain. Loosen any constricting clothing that can impair circulation, including belts or collars. If a belt or collar is too tight, the blood flow to the brain can be restricted. After you've elevated the legs and loosened constricting clothing, your teammate should be easily roused within a minute or two. If your teammate doesn't rouse easily after you've increased her circulation, call for emergency medical help.
3. Feed and Water Your Friend
Once your teammate has been roused from his fainting spell, give him small sips of water. This is especially true if your teammate was overheated or dehydrated from playing too hard. Cool water is better to give him than ice cold water. If your friend is overheated, cool him off with a cool wet cloth and get him into the shade or a cool place. Give your teammate fruit juice or a sports drink to increase blood sugar levels, followed by a protein bar if he is a diabetic. Never give an unconscious person any fluids, the fluids will not revive him. An unconscious person can choke on liquid or the liquid could cause aspiration pneumonia, which can be a serious lung complication. If your teammate experiences nausea, vomiting or is shaking, get him to an emergency room as soon as possible. If the teammate's injury caused him to faint, do not give him any food or liquids but seek medical care immediately.
