Stay Awake!

[RobRoy]

Are you sure they weren't telling the audience to stay awake?

No. No I'm not.

 

[CapelDodger]

Sheen has a tough time delivering them when conscious.

His body's lost touch with the difference.

 

[CapelDodger]

Ahhh, excellent, here's the answer I was looking for:

"... shaking them around and yelling "You've never given up on anything before, don't you dare start now!!" is unlikely to have any therapeutic value."

Nice one, Criticalist .

 

[truethat]

Well maybe it's because they figure if the person is actively involved in their treatment they will try harder to live? Has it been proven that if you are motivated in recovery it helps your survival rate? I've heard that before but it might be woo.

 

[Fnord]

Preventing shock is the most important thing, along with exsanguination...

What about a clear airway, regular breathing, and a heartbeat? Aren't these important too?

No one expects the Emergency Technicians! The most important thing is preventing shock!

Wait ... that's not right ... we'll go back out and try again.

No one expects the Emergency Technicians! The most important things are preventing shock and exsanguination!

What's exsangulation?

Aww, rubbish ... do over.

No one expects the Emergency Technicians! The most important things are preventing shock and exsanguination, as well as determining his insurance carrier! Nurse Fang, the fluffy pillows!

_{(With apologies to those who don't get the Monty Python reference.)}

 

[RobRoy]

Well maybe it's because they figure if the person is actively involved in their treatment they will try harder to live? Has it been proven that if you are motivated in recovery it helps your survival rate? I've heard that before but it might be woo.

This is certainly what entertainment is feeding us with the, "Stay awake!" trope. However, as the experts have suggested above, this appears to be for the sake of dramatic tension alone. There is no immediate, first-aid related benefit to keeping someone awake.

Past the first aid and traumatic care is beyond the scope of my OP. I'd wager it all depends on what put you in the need of medical attention in the first place, and how motivation would aid in recovery (like physical therapy). No doubt, a physical injury will respond to physical therapy better if the patient is motivated to get up out of his/her sick bed and do what the therapist indicates. Alternately, a fatal disease is unlikely to be affected by the mental state of the patient.