Comments on: Test For Unconsciousness: The Face Flick http://theemtspot.com/2009/06/04/test-for-unconsciousness-the-face-flick/ Medicine Moves Fast ... Keep Up. Tue, 15 May 2012 14:49:39 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Miss Medic http://theemtspot.com/2009/06/04/test-for-unconsciousness-the-face-flick/comment-page-1/#comment-7169 Miss Medic Sun, 29 Apr 2012 00:34:35 +0000 http://theemtspot.com/?p=941#comment-7169 Sometimes, casually describing the insertion of a Foley Catheter is enough to wake them. I am also a fan of brushing the eyelashes with a gloved finger. And, although I do not prefer assessing LOC with painful stimuli, I do occasionally use the jaw thrust maneuver. It's easily explained away as assessing the patient's airway and breathing. I've never been questioned by any family member or bystander as to why I've performed this maneuver. One last noxious test of unresponsiveness would be to use a prefilled syringe (normal saline, of course) and drop a cc or so toward the corner of their eye. It has the same effect without having to physically flick the patient. Just a suggestion. Sometimes, casually describing the insertion of a Foley Catheter is enough to wake them. I am also a fan of brushing the eyelashes with a gloved finger. And, although I do not prefer assessing LOC with painful stimuli, I do occasionally use the jaw thrust maneuver. It’s easily explained away as assessing the patient’s airway and breathing. I’ve never been questioned by any family member or bystander as to why I’ve performed this maneuver. One last noxious test of unresponsiveness would be to use a prefilled syringe (normal saline, of course) and drop a cc or so toward the corner of their eye. It has the same effect without having to physically flick the patient. Just a suggestion.

]]> By: Steven http://theemtspot.com/2009/06/04/test-for-unconsciousness-the-face-flick/comment-page-1/#comment-4057 Steven Sat, 18 Sep 2010 02:09:54 +0000 http://theemtspot.com/?p=941#comment-4057 JJ, that's a good question. However, these tests generally are only performed on patients we believe to be faking. Plenty of drunks, drug-seekers, etc try to fake unresponsiveness to avoid jail, get special drugs, etc. These tests will usually pull them out of the pack. The rest, we figure out why they are unresponsive and try to fix them the best way possible. JJ, that’s a good question. However, these tests generally are only performed on patients we believe to be faking. Plenty of drunks, drug-seekers, etc try to fake unresponsiveness to avoid jail, get special drugs, etc. These tests will usually pull them out of the pack. The rest, we figure out why they are unresponsive and try to fix them the best way possible.

]]> By: J.J. http://theemtspot.com/2009/06/04/test-for-unconsciousness-the-face-flick/comment-page-1/#comment-3950 J.J. Tue, 17 Aug 2010 00:33:37 +0000 http://theemtspot.com/?p=941#comment-3950 I'm no paramedic, but I did have a question... When someone faints, its usually because of low-blood sugar, not enough oxygen to the brain etc. Isn't the best state to be in, unconscious, because your body goes into default mode? Why do we put such an importance on reviving the person. Why not let them wake naturally? I’m no paramedic, but I did have a question… When someone faints, its usually because of low-blood sugar, not enough oxygen to the brain etc. Isn’t the best state to be in, unconscious, because your body goes into default mode? Why do we put such an importance on reviving the person. Why not let them wake naturally?

]]> By: Steve Whitehead http://theemtspot.com/2009/06/04/test-for-unconsciousness-the-face-flick/comment-page-1/#comment-2683 Steve Whitehead Fri, 11 Dec 2009 18:11:05 +0000 http://theemtspot.com/?p=941#comment-2683 Brittany, It is helpful to have at least one good technique to use on the hand because the hand is great for determining the difference between patients who are localizing their pain and those who are withdrawing. It's difficult to do the with a face flick or a sternal rub. Thanks for the contribution. Brittany, It is helpful to have at least one good technique to use on the hand because the hand is great for determining the difference between patients who are localizing their pain and those who are withdrawing. It’s difficult to do the with a face flick or a sternal rub.

Thanks for the contribution.

]]> By: Brittany http://theemtspot.com/2009/06/04/test-for-unconsciousness-the-face-flick/comment-page-1/#comment-2678 Brittany Fri, 11 Dec 2009 15:28:42 +0000 http://theemtspot.com/?p=941#comment-2678 When I took my EMT course, the idea our instructor gave us was placing your pen between their fingers(at the knuckle) and simply squeezing their fingers together. He said it works great, and there isn't much pain. When I took my EMT course, the idea our instructor gave us was placing your pen between their fingers(at the knuckle) and simply squeezing their fingers together. He said it works great, and there isn’t much pain.

]]> By: The EMT Spot » Test For Unconsciousness: The Sternal Rub http://theemtspot.com/2009/06/04/test-for-unconsciousness-the-face-flick/comment-page-1/#comment-2373 The EMT Spot » Test For Unconsciousness: The Sternal Rub Tue, 17 Nov 2009 12:03:06 +0000 http://theemtspot.com/?p=941#comment-2373 [...] Test For Unconsciousness: The Face Flick [...] [...] Test For Unconsciousness: The Face Flick [...]

]]> By: The EMT Spot » Test For Unconsciousness: The Hand Drop http://theemtspot.com/2009/06/04/test-for-unconsciousness-the-face-flick/comment-page-1/#comment-1562 The EMT Spot » Test For Unconsciousness: The Hand Drop Sat, 04 Jul 2009 12:00:59 +0000 http://theemtspot.com/?p=941#comment-1562 [...] I wrote a recent article on the benefits of the face flick for assessing level of consciousness, I received a string of questions and commentary on the [...] [...] I wrote a recent article on the benefits of the face flick for assessing level of consciousness, I received a string of questions and commentary on the [...]

]]> By: EMS Blog Rounds Edition 3 | David Konig http://theemtspot.com/2009/06/04/test-for-unconsciousness-the-face-flick/comment-page-1/#comment-800 EMS Blog Rounds Edition 3 | David Konig Sun, 07 Jun 2009 14:45:12 +0000 http://theemtspot.com/?p=941#comment-800 [...] Steve Whitehead offers an alternative to painful stimuli for potentially unconscious patients with noxious stimuli [...] [...] Steve Whitehead offers an alternative to painful stimuli for potentially unconscious patients with noxious stimuli [...]

]]> By: the Happy Medic http://theemtspot.com/2009/06/04/test-for-unconsciousness-the-face-flick/comment-page-1/#comment-782 the Happy Medic Fri, 05 Jun 2009 16:28:33 +0000 http://theemtspot.com/?p=941#comment-782 Didn't work on my last 2 customers needing this type of intervention. In the past the eyes being held shut when we try to open them is a give away, as is the falling hand. When I really need to find out how "out" we are a neck pinch and sternal rub always works wonders on my pickled clients. I will keep trying the flick, lord knows I want to flick most of these folks anyways. Didn’t work on my last 2 customers needing this type of intervention.
In the past the eyes being held shut when we try to open them is a give away, as is the falling hand.
When I really need to find out how “out” we are a neck pinch and sternal rub always works wonders on my pickled clients.
I will keep trying the flick, lord knows I want to flick most of these folks anyways.

]]> By: Mark Glencorse http://theemtspot.com/2009/06/04/test-for-unconsciousness-the-face-flick/comment-page-1/#comment-781 Mark Glencorse Fri, 05 Jun 2009 07:10:14 +0000 http://theemtspot.com/?p=941#comment-781 Ouch!! It works, but I didn't enjoy the slap across the face afterwards! Think I need to work on "safe distance" a little more! Ouch!!

It works, but I didn’t enjoy the slap across the face afterwards!
Think I need to work on “safe distance” a little more!

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