The Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) is a standardized, widely used tool for measuring a patient's level of consciousness after injury or illness. It scores three categories — eye opening, verbal response, and motor response — and sums them into a total ranging from 3 (deep unconsciousness) to 15 (fully alert and oriented).

The GCS helps clinicians communicate a patient's neurological status quickly, track changes over time, and guide decisions such as the need for airway protection. Generally, a score of 8 or below indicates a severe impairment of consciousness and the potential need for advanced airway management, making the GCS an important part of trauma assessment and ongoing monitoring.

CPR Certification Labs provides hands-on, American Heart Association–aligned CPR, BLS, ACLS, and PALS certification training to help providers master these life-saving skills.