If a person has fainted, which action should you take?

• A. Stand the person up
• B. Apply a cold compress
• C. Apply a warm compress
• D. Force the person to walk

Answer: (B)

Fainting lowers blood flow to the brain, so the goal is to support recovery quickly and safely. A cold compress provides a gentle, soothing, and non-invasive cue that can help the person regain awareness without requiring them to move or stand. It helps with dizziness and can be calming as circulation returns to normal. Standing the person up or forcing them to walk can cause a drop in blood pressure again and increase the risk of injury, and a warm compress could encourage more blood pooling away from the brain, delaying recovery. Keep the person lying down if possible, loosen tight clothing, and monitor their breathing. If they don’t wake up promptly or have trouble breathing, seek medical help right away.