system
Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:
human
ELI5: why do smelling salts wake you up as they do? And what are their limitations?
gpt
Smelling salts are basically a really strong smelling powder, which irritates your nose, making you take a big breath. They were used for rousing people who had "fainted" from a shock, a bad smell, or the sight of blood. They can occasionally make people focus on the smell or simply breathe more deeply, which can prevent a syncope. They don't do anything when someone is actually unconscious though, and they can cause irritation of the airway if used frequently.