"Stay With Me, Seriously Injured Person!" Says Hollywood, But Not Really

It doesn't necessarily benefit someone who has been inflicted with a grave injury to stay conscious, far from what famous movie scenes would have us think. The logic behind staying awake might not be for the victim but for those around who think they will lose them if they starting slipping into a deep sleep.

But our bodies regenerate the more we rest and it might be more beneficial to have someone pass out or slip into an unconscious state especially when they are seriously hurt.

In fact, unconsciousness may even mildly help in some cases. For example, one study, Tightly coupled brain activity and cerebral ATP metabolic rate, published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences USA, showed when rats were intentionally knocked out, they produced about 50% fewer ATP molecules. (ATP being the energy that cells use to perform all their vital functions.)
The net result of all of this was about a 66% reduction in energy requirements by the brain- potentially a very good thing if your body is already low on the necessary resources to keep on keeping on.

However, there are also cases when staying conscious might be helpful. When it's not all too clear, EMTs might need some insight into one's condition so that they would best understand and know how to treat the victim. Other than that, it should be fine to have some much needed rest as the medical professionals do their thing.

(Image credit: Benjamin Voros/Unsplash)


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