If you were around before that person “fell asleep,” try to remember if they brushed their teeth, ate a bedtime snack, or completed whichever other rituals they normally do.
Snapping fingers in front of the eye or brushing eyelashes with fingers can cause similar reactions.
If the person reacts but is not behaving normally, ask them to wiggle their fingers and open their eyes. If they cannot do this, they need medical attention.
If this does not work but you’re still suspicious, try again with the hand six inches (15 cm) above their face. This time, put your own hand a couple inches (a few centimeters) above the sleeper’s face, so you can catch their hand if it falls straight down.
In non-urgent hospital situations such as the arrival of a meal or the need for a non-urgent test, try using verbal cues such as “Bob, you’ve never stuck a tube down someone’s throat before, right? Want to try it on this patient?”
Try it on yourself first to discover how much pressure is needed; it doesn’t take much to cause discomfort. Because this can take 30 seconds, it is not advisable in a serious emergency situation.
Trapezius pinch: Grasp the muscle at the base of the neck with your thumb and forefinger. Twist as you watch and listen for a response. Supraorbital pressure: Locate the bony ridge above an eye, and press against the middle of it with your thumb tip while watching and listening. Always press upward toward the forehead, never down toward the eye.
