Ground-level falls caused by fainting, near fainting, or dizziness should go to Protocol 31?

• A. Protocol 31
• B. Protocol 21
• C. Protocol 26
• D. Protocol 32

Answer: (A)

Fainting or near-fainting with a ground-level fall points to a loss-of-consciousness event, which is best handled by a syncope/near-syncope protocol. Protocol 31 is specifically designed for these situations, guiding you to rapidly assess for ongoing instability, airway and breathing adequacy, and potential injuries, while directing the caller toward a timely EMS response. This routing helps address the underlying cause of the dizziness or fainting—often cardiac or neurologic—rather than treating it as a generic fall. The other protocols focus on different chief complaints (such as breathing problems or non-syncopal injuries) and wouldn’t align with the assessment path needed for syncope with a fall.