Why do medics try everything to keep injured patients awake and conscious ?
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First comment is more wrong than it is right IMO. Technically a first responder is not going to prioritize maintaining consciousness, sure, but if someone loses consciousness and remains unresponsive that is a sign that life saving measures may need to be initiated.
Proper first aid involves assessing someone’s level of consciousness as this determines management.
If someone can maintain their consciousness, then you know that their heart and lungs are functioning properly and they can breath on their own. If they are not conscious, you need to determine if that is reversible (shake them awake, use a sternal rub to assess if pain will wake them up). If they do not wake to touch, sound, or pain, then they could potentially not be able to protect their airway and you should assess their ABCs: airway, breathing, and circulation. Depending on how they are this determines whether you need to maintain their airway, initiate CPR, etc.
I highly recommend everyone take a BLS course from the Red Cross, even if it’s just the online only one. You could save a life.
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