A faint (also known as a syncope) is a short-lasting period of unconsciousness, which may have any of a large number of causes. It is not by itself usually serious, but may be a symptom of a more serious underlying condition. The main cause behind the loss of consciousness is a decrease in the flow of oxygenated blood to the brain. Common causes of faints include.

• Standing up for too long A sudden fright, Raised pressure in the chest, Certain heart conditions Minor diabetic hypo Hyper ventilation Severe pain * Over –heating. (See heat-exhaustion) * Moving someone too quickly when they are in ‘subspace’ or have been immobile for a long time.

Classic Symptoms:

The classic fainting history is either that the person suddenly collapsed with no warning, or that they complained of feeling giddy before collapse. Other signs include:

• Cold sweat Pale skin A slow pulse

Should someone complain of feeling faint, they should be encouraged to sit down preferably on the floor, so if they do faint, they cannot fall very far, and adopt the following procedure

Lean forward

Lower head toward knees, as the head is lowered below the heart, blood will flow to the brain.

If you are going to put someone in bondage (whether ropes or cuffs) you should ensure that you have some form of quick release system, which allows you to get him or her on to the floor quickly and easily. Different people will have different things they use, but a quick release rope knot, or ‘panic snaps’ are great. http://www.informedconsent.co.uk/encyclopervia/Panic_snaps

It might certainly be worth speaking to someone who does rope bondage and ask him or her to show you a basic knot.

If someone complains of feeling faint, and they are in bondage, loosen the feet first so that they can get their balance. If possible get a bystander to take their bodyweight by holding under the arms and around the chest until you have released fully.

If the casualty does faint they should recover consciousness quickly after collapse. Try to stop people crowding around, and if necessary, enlist the help of people to move crowds back and give you and the casualty space.

Treatment:

If the casualty is wearing any tight or restrictive clothing i.e. Corsets, collar, tie, loosen or remove these items.

To aid the blood flow to the brain, elevate the casualty's legs. You can place the legs on a chair or stool if you are alone. If they stay unconscious, roll them into the recovery position (see above) and start considering other possible causes.

A common reaction to waking up after a faint is to want to sit up or stand up. This is liable to provoke another faint, so you should endeavour to keep the casualty lying down as long as possible. When they do finally sit up, get them to keep their head between their knees. It is quite possible that they will faint again, so dissuade them from doing anything energetic for a while. It is ok to give them a glass of water, cup of tea etc but do not give them any alcohol. Also refrain from giving them food until they are recovered. If the fainting is the result of over-heating, try to cool the area with a fan etc or move then to a cooler place when they have woken and feel comfortable to move.

If the cause of the faint is not obvious, you may wish to advise them to see their GP

Heat related faints: This is a faint caused by prolonged exposure to heat, causing less blood to circulate to the brain. This is particularly common when standing for long periods, e.g. for soldiers on parade.

The early warning signs are the same as for a normal faint: feeling giddy or sick. Once the casualty faints, the pulse will be slow but the skin may be moist, warm and red as opposed to the pale, sweaty skin of a normal skin.

Treatment is the same as for normal faints, but be aware that the casualty may well be suffering from Heat Exhaustion as well.