Jill Cox, age 10, of McGregor, Minn., for her question:

WHY DO PEOPLE FAINT?

Fainting is a temporary loss of consciousness. It usually starts with a person becoming pale and starting to perspire. He also has a weak pulse and his breathing is not on a regular pattern. Fainting usually lasts only a few minutes.

As a fainting spell passes, the muscles become firm, the pulse beat becomes stronger and breathing again becomes regular.

Fainting in most cases is caused by a rapid and great fall in blood pressure which results in a too small supply of blood to the brain. Usually the rapid fall in blood pressure is caused by a mental or physical shock.

Fainting is treated by letting the person lie stretched out with the head slightly lower than the body. The clothing should be loosened. Sometimes a whiff of ammonia is helpful.