Chapter 4: What Should You Do If a Child Collapses?
When a child suddenly collapses, adults may panic.
The most important thing is to stay focused on immediate safety.
First, check whether the child responds when spoken to gently.
Then check whether the child is breathing normally.
If the child is unresponsive and not breathing normally, someone should call emergency medical services while another person begins CPR if they are trained to do so. An automated external defibrillator, or AED, should be used if one is available and appropriate.
If the child is unconscious but breathing normally, keep them in a safe position and monitor their breathing while waiting for medical assistance. Follow the instructions provided by emergency dispatchers.
Do not give an unconscious child food, water, medication, or anything else by mouth.
If the child is awake and appears to have fainted, they should remain lying down or seated safely rather than immediately standing up.
A child who gets up too quickly after a faint may become dizzy and collapse again.
If there is an obvious injury from the fall, avoid unnecessary movement, particularly if a serious neck or spinal injury is possible.
If the child has diabetes and there is a known blood-glucose problem, follow their established emergency plan when possible.
If the collapse appears related to an allergic reaction and the child has a prescribed epinephrine auto-injector, it should be used according to their emergency action plan, followed by emergency medical care.
One mistake adults should avoid is assuming that a child has simply “fainted” without checking their condition.
Another is allowing a child who has collapsed during exercise to immediately return to sports after recovering.
That situation deserves medical assessment before the child resumes strenuous activity.
After an unexplained collapse, write down what happened while the details are still fresh.
Note what the child was doing immediately beforehand, whether there were warning symptoms, how long they appeared unconscious, whether there were abnormal movements, and how quickly they returned to normal.
These details can be extremely useful to healthcare professionals.
Image 2 — suggested placement:
Realistic photograph of a **European pediatric emergency professional assessing a young child after a fainting episode, with a parent nearby, calm hospital environment, authentic medical photography, no text, no logos, no watermark.