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Fainting: warning signs and how to prevent it

⏱ 2 min read

Warning signs, drinking enough, first aid skills. A guide based on official advice. The same text is in the free SurvivalZone.app and works without internet.

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Fainting is a brief loss of consciousness that usually passes within a few tens of seconds. Common triggers are heat, hunger, not drinking enough, standing for a long time, getting up quickly, strong emotions or pain.

The fall can be dangerous, and so can what the faint may be a sign of. That is why it helps to know the warning signs and how to react.

Warning signs

  1. Pale skin, sweating, dizziness, blurred vision, ringing ears, nausea, feeling hot or cold.
  2. When you notice them: sit or lie down straight away. If you cannot, cross your legs and tense your leg, stomach and arm muscles hard, or squat.

How to lower the risk

  1. Drink water regularly, especially in hot weather and during exercise.
  2. Do not skip meals.
  3. Get up slowly from bed and chairs.
  4. If you stand for a long time, wiggle your toes and tense your calves. Avoid standing in full sun.

Teach your family

  1. Show everyone at home how to lay down someone who has fainted and raise their legs.
  2. Practise the recovery position and CPR. They help in other emergencies too.
  3. Someone who faints often should carry information about their conditions and medicines.

When to see a doctor

  1. After a first faint, after fainting during exercise, after an injury from a fall, and if faints happen again.

Checklist

  1. Water bottle in my bag
  2. I know the warning signs of fainting
  3. I can put someone in the recovery position
  4. CPR practised
  5. Medical card on my phone

See also

Frequently asked questions

What usually causes fainting?

Heat, hunger, not drinking enough, standing for a long time, getting up quickly, strong emotions or pain. Less often a heart problem, which is why a doctor should check any faint.

Do children and teenagers faint often?

Yes, fainting is common in teenagers, for example at school assemblies or in the heat. It is usually harmless, but a doctor should assess a first faint.

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Sources

Official sources are checked automatically every day. Last check: 2026-11-04.

General guidance only; it does not replace the emergency services. If a life is in danger, call 112.