Fainting and collapse (patient fact sheet)

Please note that this guidance is currently undergoing review by Safer Care Victoria to ensure  the content is up to date. In the meantime, we recommend that you also refer to more contemporaneous evidence where possible.

Download our fact sheet to provide your patients with easy to follow guidance on fainting and collapse.

This fact sheet has the #withconsumers tick from the Consumers Health Forum of Australia

Fainting is when you become unconscious or ‘black out’ for a brief period. You may collapse to the floor and may have a brief period of twitching while collapsed. Fainting is caused by a sudden drop in blood pressure (hypotension), which results in less blood flow to the brain. Brain cells depend on a good blood flow to supply oxygen and nutrients and react quickly when this supply is reduced or cut off.

Most faints do not cause any harm and recovery is fast. However, fainting can also indicate a serious medical problem.