SYNCOPE

How can you care for your child at home?

* If your child faints:

• Protect the child from getting hurt. Ease the child to the floor, or lay a very small child face down on your lap.
• Check to make sure he or she is breathing. (Put your ear over your child’s mouth to listen for breathing sounds.) If your child is not breathing, CALL 911 and stay on the phone.
• Prop up your child’s legs and feet above his/her chest. After your child wakes up, have him/her stay down for 10 to 15 minutes.
• If your child is going to vomit, turn the child onto his/her side, which will help prevent choking.
• When your child wakes up, give him/her a glass of fruit juice. Put a cold washcloth on his/her forehead.
• Check to see if your child got hurt from falling.

* Tell your child to stand with the leg muscles relaxed, rather than keeping the knees locked.
* Teach your child to stand up slowly from a sitting or lying position to avoid fainting.
* Teach your child to lie down or sit down and put his/her head between the knees when he/she feels faint. Warning signs are feeling dizzy, weak, sick to the stomach or warm.
* Your child may need to drink more fluids.
* Have your child avoid situations that cause dizziness or fainting. These include hot weather, hot tubs and standing for a long time.
* Have your child take medicine exactly as prescribed. Call your doctor if you think your child ishavin g a problem with his/her medicine.

When should you call for help?

Call 911 anytime you think your child may need emergency care. For example, call if:

• You are not able to quickly wake up your child after he/she faints.
• Your child has blurred vision, numbness or tingling in any part of the body, or trouble walking or talking.
• Your child is confused after he/she awakens.