7 mo. ago • 92%

my job has medicine that wakes you up if you've fainted

48 comments

Smelling salts are now a "new" thing. Take me out back like Old Yeller.

83
- Kind Sir please fetch me the smelling salts I've got the vapours. 🪭
  
  23
I react poorly to blood donation and have had these used on me, they are incredibly unpleasant. There's no lasting harm, and they do work very well. Basically imagine a chemical burn throughout your nose, sinuses, and upper respiratory system that lasts 30 seconds. It works immediately and gets a very strong reaction

60
- Huh. It sounds like TV had it right this time. I assumed smelling salts were a convenient plot device, rather than an actual thing.
  
  22
  
  I work in medicine and I have used these on people (and tried it once to see how it was) they're very fucking strong. It's like inhaling cat piss that's on fire.
  
  14
  
  Can confirm. I also fainted once after donating blood. They used that stuff on me. The tv does get it right this time. It works very quickly, and is similar to getting a big whiff of ammonia. Pungent, sharp, yet kind of the same feeling like when your nose suddenly clears if you have a cold and can breathe again.
  
  Edit: lol, I didn't know they were actual ammonia. Go figure. I'm trying to not light up the room so scrolled past the image at first.
  
  10
Don't most first aid kits have smelling salts?

49
- I've never seen a first aid kid with smelling salts.
  
  27
  
  They should be in all first aid kits. Extremely long shelf lives, very stable and very useful.
  
  5
- I've never seen them before, honestly I wasn't even aware these were a thing
  
  19
- Everywhere I've worked has them however everywhere I worked has high temp work environments where passing out from hest exhaustion happens. They're always in the more expensive first aid kits though which I don't think are required.
  
  3
I need to make a machine that pours this shit down my nose/mouth at a time I set. Finally an alarm that I will wake up from .

14
- Maybe check out alarm clocks for deaf people, they make some that work on scent
  
  3
  
  Will do
  
  3
In movies and TV it always looked like they cracked something in half. I'm wondering if they've been coming in a little pouch now for a long time but that cracking-in-half type is now movie shorthand for smelling salts so they keep doing it.

13
- The ones in the movies exist irl. In the same way youve never seen the tube ones, I've never seen them in a pouch until now
  
  18
- Glass ampoules definitely still exist for smelling salts and similar. Honestly I assumed it was because they'd eat through most other viable packaging, now I dunno. But they definitely still exist. My roommate has some.
  
  4
Lucky. Mine just has asbestos in the walls.

10
- Better there than in your lungs.
  
  5
  
  True enough.
  
  1
My roommate and I would get these things, though I've never seen a pouch version.

If anyone fell asleep on the couch you would get hit with some smelling salts.

Woke you right the fuck up lol

9
Permanently Deleted

9
Holy shit, clean your fingernails you troglodyte

7
- Lmao Id like to see you try keeping your fingers clean when removing e-tape off cable and painting truss all day
  
  39
  
  Your filthy fingernails are forgiven. It's all in an honest day of hard work.
  
  7
- It definitely looks like they were just doing a dirty job. I don't know why you would assume that this is just the way they keep their hands.
  
  7
Ammonia? Shiiit, just grab a bottle of cleaner from under the sink!

7
These are also used by competitive weightlifters.

6
A third party is required.

5
- What's the second party doing while the third wakes up the first?
  
  7
  
  Holding them down maybe?
  
  5
  
  The third party swiftly rips open the second party to revive the first. Party on.
  
  3
  
  Well the real answer is that they should ensure only people actively helping are next to the person until paramedics arrive.
  
  More often they're causing a bigger scene
  
  1
That's cool... I have a whole bottle (smelling salts) of it in powder form in case I need to pop off a personal record in one of my exercises.

4
- I have a whole tray of it I just keep sitting on the floor... Okay it's just a litterbox but still, it'll grow hair on your chin!
  
  1
  
  lol...
  
  1
I need those for my girlfriend who passes out during flights. Where can I find some?

Edit: nevermind. Found some

3
- Sounds like orthostatic hypotension causing vasovagal syncope. She should wear compression socks and drink plenty of water. There are ways of mitigating and managing episodes. It's relatively common on planes.
  
  6
  
  Interesting. We have a trip planned this fall. We'll try that out.
  
  Thank you very much for the advice.
  
  2
- I see some of them on Amazon and it looks like they're okay with TSA too, question though. If ( and I'm assuming this is an anxiety, not medical issue) your girlfriend is unconscious, would she possibly prefer to just remain unconscious rather than feel anxious about the flight? Or does she not like the fainting part either, i wouldn't know as I've never fainted so maybe it's unpleasant
  
  5
  
  If it's vasovagal syncope it's probably unpleasant. Can cause sweating, confusion, and a bunch of other problems because your brain isn't getting enough blood to function.
  
  3
  
  Nah. She passes out for like five seconds then wakes up and spends the rest of the flight puking.
  
  3
- Smelling salts are pretty strong, an alcohol swab can jave the same effect but is much less unpleasant.
  
  1
Swedish Dream Cookies straight out of the oven will work too!

3
Permanently Deleted

1
That's how you leave someone's brain.

1

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