The person is conscious.
ko-SHEN-te — three syllables, stress on second. The 'sc' before 'ie' is like 'sh'.
Report consciousness level immediately to the dispatcher. This is one of the first questions they will ask.
'Cosciente' = conscious. 'Non è cosciente' = is not conscious (unconscious). The AVPU scale (Alert, Voice, Pain, Unresponsive) is used by Italian emergency services. Also say: 'risponde' (is responding), 'è sveglia/o' (is awake), 'non risponde' (is not responding). Consciousness level determines urgency code.
Non è cosciente. Non risponde.
He is not conscious. He is not responding.
Unconscious patient — highest urgency — triggers 'codice rosso'
È cosciente ma confuso.
He is conscious but confused.
Altered consciousness — important detail, suggests head injury or stroke
Ha perso i sensi per un momento e poi si è ripreso.
He lost consciousness for a moment and then came round.
Brief loss of consciousness ('sincope') — still requires emergency evaluation
Italian 118 dispatchers follow strict protocols ('protocolli MPDS' — Medical Priority Dispatch System). They assign urgency codes: 'rosso' (red, life-threatening), 'giallo' (yellow, urgent), 'verde' (green, minor). Dispatchers also give 'istruzioni pre-arrivo' (pre-arrival instructions) — first aid guidance over the phone, including CPR instructions.