Fainting in children, especially adolescents, is common but shouldn't be ignored. In most cases, fainting — also called syncope (SIN-kuh-pee) — is not a sign of a dangerous problem. The health care provider checked your child and made sure that it's safe for your child to go home. Follow the advice of your health care provider about things you can do to help prevent fainting in the future.

Staying Well-Hydrated

• Your child should drink plenty of caffeine-free liquids, such as water, every day. If your child is drinking enough, their pee should look clear or very pale yellow. If the pee is darker yellow, your child should drink more liquid.
• If your child's health care provider recommended increasing salt in the diet, give your child salty snacks (pretzels, saltine crackers, pickles, soups) twice a day and use more salt on table foods.

Safety

• If your child feels dizzy or lightheaded, has changes in vision, or looks pale, have them quickly sit down and drop their head between the knees or lie down on the floor. Your child should get up slowly when they feel better.
• If you see your child beginning to faint, try to catch them to avoid injury. Then quickly lay your child down and lift their legs up.

School and Activities

• Ask your health care provider for a school note that will allow your child to take bottled water to class and have extra bathroom breaks if needed.
• Using the buddy system is a good idea if your child is doing something where fainting could be more dangerous (such as bike riding, climbing a tree, swimming, etc.).

• Your child has more fainting spells, even after you follow the health care provider's recommendations.

Your child:

• faints during exercise
• faints after feeling a change in their heartbeat
• faints after having chest pain
• faints and is injured by the fall
• has fainting followed by a seizure

Why does fainting happen? A person faints when there isn't enough blood going to the brain because of a drop in blood pressure. Blood pressure can drop for different reasons, such as dehydration, a quick change in position, standing or sitting still for a long period, or a sudden fear of something (such as the sight of blood). A person usually has warning signs (such as a change in vision, dizziness, nausea, looking pale, or sweating) a few seconds before they faint.

What can help prevent fainting? If your child feels like they're going to faint, have them lie down or sit with their head between their knees to help prevent it. They also should: 

• Drink more liquids (but avoid drinks with caffeine). 
• Move their legs or change position when standing or sitting for a long time. 
• Avoid situations that can bring on fainting, like being in a hot, stuffy, crowded room.

Should a child have testing after fainting? After a child faints for the first time, health care providers might do a blood test or an electrocardiogram (EKG or ECG). An EKG checks the heart's rhythm.