because it may not be sleep -- it may be unconsciousness/coma, and you need
to keep the person awake and aware so you can monitor their neurological
functioning -- can they talk, do they know who they are/where they are/what
the date is/who the president is, can they follow a pen with their eyes,
can they touch their finger to their nose

all these neurological evaluation tools are done to monitor brain swelling
and potentially life-threatening pressure inside the skull

you can't do them if the person is asleep/unconscious

Kathy, been there, done that -- fell off my bike onto my head on August 30,
1988, which may explain a lot
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-------
Katherine A. Dettwyler, Ph.D.                         email:
[log in to unmask]
Anthropology Department                               phone: (409) 845-5256
Texas A&M University                                    fax: (409) 845-4070
College Station, TX  77843-4352
http://www.prairienet.org/laleche/dettwyler.html

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