Basic first aid when help may be delayed

This guide does not replace a first-aid course. If you can, call your local emergency number first (for example 112, 911 or 999) and follow what the operator tells you. If anything here differs from your local first-aid course, follow your course.

First: danger and help

• Check it is safe to approach. Then gently shake their shoulders and ask loudly “Are you OK?”
• No response? Ask someone to call your emergency number, or put your phone on speaker and call yourself.

Unresponsive and breathing

• Open the airway: gently tilt the head back and lift the chin. Look, listen and feel for breathing for up to 10 seconds. Ignore occasional gasps.
• If they are breathing normally, put them in the recovery position (on their side) and get help.

Unresponsive and not breathing: CPR

• Ask a helper to bring a defibrillator (AED) if there is one.
• Put the heel of your hand on the middle of the chest, other hand on top, arms straight. Push down 5–6 cm (about 2 inches), then let the chest come fully back up.
• Push 100–120 times a minute.
• Untrained, or unwilling to give rescue breaths? Give continuous chest compressions (hands-only CPR).
• If trained, give 30 compressions, then 2 rescue breaths, and repeat.
• Keep going until help takes over, the person starts breathing normally, or you are too exhausted to continue.

Using a defibrillator (AED)

• Switch it on and follow its instructions. Stick the pads on the bare chest as shown, without stopping compressions.
• If it advises a shock, tell everyone to stand back, then carry on CPR.

Severe bleeding

• Press firmly on the wound with whatever you have, and call your emergency number.
• Keep pressing until help arrives. If blood soaks through, swap in a fresh pad and keep pressing.
• Leave any object stuck in the wound in place and press around it.
• Tourniquets: only if you are trained or the emergency operator tells you to.

Shock

If they become pale, cold and dizzy after blood loss:

• Keep pressure on the wound. Lay them down and raise their feet above their body.
• Keep them warm with coats or a blanket, and reassure them.

Burns and scalds

• Cool the burn under cool running water for 20 minutes, as soon as possible. No tap? Use cool bottled water or a wet towel.
• Remove clothing or jewellery near the burn, but not anything stuck to it.
• Lay cling film over it. Do not wrap it round.
• No butter, creams or oils. Do not burst blisters or use sticky plasters.
• Get emergency help for large or deep burns, burns on the face, genitals or bottom, and chemical or electrical burns.

Choking (adult)

1. Encourage them to cough.
2. If they cannot cough, speak or breathe, bend them forward and give up to 5 firm back blows between the shoulder blades.
3. Still choking? Give up to 5 abdominal thrusts: arms round the waist, pull inwards and upwards above the belly button.
4. Call your emergency number if they are still choking, and repeat. If they become unresponsive, start CPR.

Babies under one year: do not give abdominal thrusts. Lay them face down along your thigh and give up to 5 back blows.

Your first-aid kit

Keep one at home and in the car. Include:

• Sterile gauze pads, dressings, roller and triangular bandages
• Assorted plasters, medical tape, antiseptic wipes, tweezers, a thermometer
• Non-latex gloves, a CPR breathing barrier, an emergency blanket
• Your own medicines, emergency phone numbers and printed first-aid instructions

Check it regularly and replace used or out-of-date items.