What should you do if someone shows signs of altered mental status?

When someone shows signs of altered mental status, it is crucial to assess for potential causes and alert emergency services. Altered mental status can be indicative of severe underlying conditions such as head injuries, strokes, dehydration, or other medical emergencies. Recognizing these signs is vital because timely intervention by medical professionals can significantly impact the individual's outcome.

Assessing the causes involves gathering information about the person’s medical history, potential substance use, or any incidents that may have contributed to their condition. Once these factors are evaluated, notifying emergency services ensures that the individual receives the urgent medical attention they may need. It is essential to provide paramedics or emergency providers with as much information as possible about the situation.

While checking for physical injuries, ensuring comfort, and monitoring breathing are important components of overall care, they are secondary to determining the underlying reasons for the altered mental status and facilitating prompt medical intervention. These steps can complement the assessment but should not replace the immediate action of contacting emergency services in a potentially serious scenario.