Fainting: A Care Staff Guide to First Aid, Seizures and When to Call 999

A resident stands up from their chair, goes pale and slumps to the floor. A few seconds later they open their eyes, confused and a little embarrassed. Fainting is common and is often harmless, but in a care setting staff cannot assume that. It can also be mistaken for a seizure, or be a sign of a heart problem that needs urgent attention.

This guide explains what the NHS says about the causes of fainting, how to give first aid, when to call 999 and when to arrange a GP review. It draws on the NHS fainting page, last reviewed in August 2026.

What is fainting?

Fainting is a brief loss of consciousness. The NHS says the person usually wakes within 30 seconds. It lists several common causes:

• Standing up too quickly, which may cause a drop in blood pressure.
• Not eating or drinking enough.
• Being too hot.
• Strong upset, anger or severe pain.
• Heart problems.
• Drugs or heavy alcohol use.

For some residents, medicines that lower blood pressure or heart rate, or a condition that affects how the body responds to standing, add to the risk. Our guides to postural hypotension and postural tachycardia syndrome cover two conditions where dizziness and fainting on standing are common features.

If someone feels faint

The NHS suggests that a person who feels faint should lie down with their legs raised, or sit with their head between their knees. Other tips include drinking water, crossing the legs or rocking on the toes, and clenching the fists. Staff can also help by getting the person to sit down early, loosening tight clothing and opening a window if the room is hot.

First aid if someone faints

The NHS first aid steps are:

1. Stay calm.
2. Check for a response by gently shaking the shoulders and asking loudly whether they are OK.
3. If there is no response, shout for help, tilt the head back and lift the chin.
4. Check breathing for at least 10 seconds.
5. If they are breathing normally, lay them on their back and raise their legs.
6. If they are pregnant, especially after 28 weeks, lay them on their side.

Follow your organisation's emergency procedures and your first aid training, and make sure someone stays with the person until they have fully recovered.

When to call 999

The NHS tells people to call 999 if the person:

• is not breathing;
• cannot be woken within one minute;
• has not fully recovered, or has speech or movement difficulties;
• has chest pain, or a pounding, fluttering or irregular heartbeat;
• was seriously injured before or after fainting;
• is shaking or jerking, which could be a seizure;
• fainted while exercising or while lying down.

The NHS also says the person should not drive themselves to A&E in these situations. Speech or movement difficulties after a collapse can also be signs of stroke, so use the FAST test if you are unsure.

Faint or seizure?

The NHS includes shaking or jerking in its list of reasons to call 999, because it may be a seizure. In practice, staff often cannot tell the difference, so describing what you saw to the call handler is more useful than guessing. If a resident has a known diagnosis of epilepsy and a care plan, follow it, and see our guide to epilepsy awareness and emergency medicines for the wider picture.

When to see a GP

The NHS advises seeing a GP after any faint, for non-urgent checks to find the cause. If fainting is regular, the person should tell the DVLA if they drive, because it may affect their licence. The NHS also says not to drive while waiting for a specialist assessment after a GP referral.

Practical points for care staff

The NHS page does not give specific guidance for care settings, so these steps are general good practice rather than NHS requirements.

• Record what happened: what the person was doing beforehand, how they looked, how long it lasted, how quickly they recovered and who was informed.
• Note any injuries: check for head or limb injuries after a fall, and follow your post-fall procedures.
• Review triggers: consider hydration, meals, room temperature, recent medicine changes and how the person stands up.
• Report patterns: repeated faints or near-faints should be passed on to the GP or nurse rather than being treated as one-offs.
• Support safe movements: encourage people to rise slowly and to sit on the edge of the bed for a moment before standing.

Training and CPD

Staff who understand first aid, observation and escalation respond more calmly and record more usefully. Keep notes of your learning in your CPD log, practise scenarios with colleagues, and browse the options on our CPD pages.

Key points to remember

• Fainting is a brief loss of consciousness; people usually recover within about 30 seconds.
• Common causes include standing quickly, dehydration, heat, strong emotion or pain, heart problems and drugs or alcohol.
• Lay the person down with their legs raised if they are breathing normally.
• Call 999 if they are not breathing, do not wake within a minute, have chest pain or an irregular heartbeat, jerk or shake, or have not fully recovered.
• Always arrange a GP review after a faint, and record what you saw.

Frequently asked questions

How long does a person stay unconscious when they faint?

The NHS says they usually wake within 30 seconds. If they cannot be woken within one minute, call 999.

Does everyone who faints need to see a doctor?

The NHS advises seeing a GP after any faint, for non-urgent checks. Call 999 in the situations listed above.

Can fainting affect driving?

Yes. The NHS says that if fainting is regular, the person should tell the DVLA, as it may affect driving.

This guide is for general information and is not a substitute for clinical advice or your organisation's policies.