When someone suffers a head injury or suddenly loses consciousness, the first question on every clinician’s mind is simple: how awake are they? The Glasgow Coma Scale was created to answer this question with clarity and consistency.
Instead of relying on vague descriptions like “deep coma” or “semi-conscious,” the scale gave medicine a structured way to observe and record consciousness. Born in a Glasgow hospital more than 50 years ago, it has since become a universal language spoken by paramedics on roadside calls, nurses in intensive care units, and surgeons in operating theaters.
What is it? And how, exactly, is it used? Click on to find out.