🌫️ What to Do If Someone Feels Faint or Lightheaded

Information provided is not a substitute for professional medical advice and you should always seek appropriate professional help or seek immediate medical attention for serious conditions. See full disclaimer here.

Feeling faint or lightheaded is common — it can happen to anyone, anywhere.
Most of the time, fainting (also called syncope) is brief and not serious, but sometimes it can signal an underlying health issue.
Knowing what to do can help keep the person safe and prevent injury.

🧠 Step 1: Recognise the Signs

People often feel warning signs before fainting.
They might say they feel:

• Dizzy or lightheaded

• Hot or sweaty

• Nauseous

• Weak or shaky

• Their vision “blurring” or “tunnelling”

You may also notice:

• Pale or clammy skin

• Sudden yawning or slow responses

• Loss of balance or slumping forward

🪑 Step 2: Help Them Sit or Lie Down

If someone says they feel faint:

• Help them to sit or lie down immediately to prevent a fall.

• If possible, lie them flat and raise their legs on a chair or cushion to improve blood flow to the brain.

• If sitting, encourage them to put their head between their knees.

Do not let them stand suddenly or walk around until they feel better.

💨 Step 3: Loosen Tight Clothing

Loosen tight collars, ties, belts, or waistbands to help them breathe and improve circulation.
Make sure there’s fresh air — open a window or move to a cooler area if indoors.

🚰 Step 4: Check Their Breathing and Response

If the person becomes unresponsive:

• Check for normal breathing.

  • If they are breathing normally, place them in the recovery position and monitor until they regain consciousness.

  • If they are not breathing normally, call 999 or 112 and start CPR.

🕒 Step 5: When They Wake Up

• Keep them lying or sitting until they feel fully recovered.

• Offer them water to sip slowly.

• Encourage deep, steady breaths.

• If fainting was caused by standing up too quickly, heat, or pain, recovery is usually quick.

⚠️ Step 6: When to Call for Help

Call 999 or 112 if:

• The person doesn’t wake within one minute

• They stop breathing or show signs of seizure activity

• They have chest pain, palpitations, or shortness of breath

• They are pregnant, diabetic, or have known heart problems

• They hit their head or sustain an injury while falling

Even if they seem fine, advise them to see a GP if fainting happens more than once, or without a clear cause.

🧍 Step 7: Preventing Fainting

Common triggers include dehydration, standing for long periods, skipping meals, or overheating.
To help prevent fainting:

• Stay hydrated and eat regular meals

• Avoid standing still for long periods

• Move around or tense leg muscles if you feel lightheaded

• Sit or lie down immediately if warning signs start

✅ Key Takeaways

• Help the person lie down with raised legs.

• Check breathing and responsiveness.

• Call 999 or 112 if they do not recover quickly.

• Keep them calm and hydrated once they regain consciousness.

🎓 Learn More with DAC Education

DAC Education’s courses include hands-on training for managing fainting, collapse, and other sudden illnesses:

• Emergency First Aid at Work (EFAW)

• First Aid at Work (FAW)

• First Response Emergency Care (FREC 3)

👉 Book a First Aid Course
(Delivered at our Suffolk HQ or on-site for groups of six or more.)

Disclaimer

This article provides general first aid guidance for fainting and lightheadedness.
If symptoms persist or are accompanied by chest pain, confusion, or shortness of breath, seek urgent medical attention.