⚠️ MedDeck is an educational and reference tool for seafarers. It does not replace professional medical advice, TMAS, a company doctor, or emergency services. In an emergency, seek appropriate medical assistance and follow your vessel's procedures.
🚨 Need urgent help?
What should I do first?SYM-003
Dizziness / fainting
Light-headedness or fainting can have many causes — check safety and escalation signs.
What should I do now?
- Help the person sit or lie down safely and protect from falls
- Ensure a safe environment and monitor recovery
- Offer reasonable hydration only if the person is fully awake and it is safe to do so
- Avoid further heat exposure or exertion where relevant
What is this symptom?
- Dizziness can describe feeling light-headed, unsteady, weak, or as though the surroundings are moving
- Fainting is a brief loss of responsiveness that may follow dizziness
What might be associated with it?
- Many different conditions can cause dizziness or fainting
- Possible associations include dehydration, missed meals, heat, motion, fatigue, infection, or more serious circulation or neurological problems
What should I check?
- Responsiveness and breathing after an episode
- Whether the person recovered fully
- Recent fluid intake, heat exposure, or injury
- Whether symptoms are single or repeated
What can make it urgent?
- Loss of consciousness, abnormal breathing, or failure to recover promptly
- Repeated episodes or injury from a fall
- Associated chest pain, severe headache, or confusion
- If an emergency may be present, use 🚨 WHAT SHOULD I DO FIRST? — Unresponsive or abnormal breathing (EM-001) or Shock / circulatory collapse (EM-005)
When should I seek medical assistance?
- Seek appropriate medical assistance if symptoms are severe, worsening, persistent, associated with concerning signs, or if you are unsure about the person's condition
- Contact your vessel's designated medical assistance/TMAS service according to vessel procedures
- Seek assistance after fainting, repeated episodes, or if the person does not recover as expected
What information should I prepare for medical assistance?
- When symptoms started and whether they came suddenly or gradually
- Whether symptoms are improving or worsening
- Other symptoms present at the same time
- Relevant injury, exposure, heat, cold, or motion if applicable
- Fluid intake, rest, and any medicines already taken if known
- Relevant medical history volunteered by the person
Related emergency pathways
Related medical knowledge
Important safety note
- This page orients you to a symptom — it does not confirm a specific medical condition
- Many different conditions can cause the same symptom; professional assessment may be needed
⚠️ MedDeck is an educational and reference tool for seafarers. It does not replace professional medical advice, TMAS, a company doctor, or emergency services. In an emergency, seek appropriate medical assistance and follow your vessel's procedures.
MEDDECK
Before you continue
⚠️ MedDeck is an educational and reference tool for seafarers. It does not replace professional medical advice, TMAS, a company doctor, or emergency services. In an emergency, seek appropriate medical assistance and follow your vessel's procedures.