Whether you are an experienced first aider or not, finding yourself in a situation that requires some first aid to be administered requires you to keep calm and make informed decisions:
If you answer YES to any of these questions dial 999 for an ambulance:
Severe chest pain:
- Is the patient unconscious?
- Has the patient got a history of heart problems?
- Is the pain a crushing pain like a band around the chest?
- Is the pain moving into the jaw or arms?
- Does the patient feel sick?
- Is the patient sweating or clammy?
- Is the patient having breathing difficulties?
Unconscious:
- Is the patient unconscious?
Semi-conscious (or 'floppy' baby or child):
- Is the patient semi-conscious or floppy with any other of the following symptoms
- Difficult to wake? Stiff neck? Severe headache? Child with a high-pitched whimpering cry? Purple or blood coloured rash? Photo-phobic?
- Is the patient a diabetic? Is the patient having breathing difficulties?
- Is the patient having chest pains?
- Has the patient got a history of heart problems?
Overdose and Semi-conscious:
- Is the patient unconscious or very drowsy?
- Is the patient having breathing difficulties?
Overdose and fully conscious:
- Is the patient having breathing difficulties?
- Is the patient a danger to himself?
- Is the patient a danger to others?
Severe breathlessness or collapse:
- Is the patient unconscious?
- Is the patient semi-conscious?
- Is the patient having breathing difficulties?
- Has the patient received a crushing or penetrating injury to head, neck, chest, abdo or thigh?
- Is the bleeding uncontrollable?
Serious head injury / Road accident:
- Is the patient unconscious?
- Is the patient having breathing difficulties?
- Is the patient fitting?
- Has the patient received a crushing or penetrating injury to head, neck, chest, abdo or thigh?
Epilepsy / Fitting:
- Is the patient still fitting? Is this the patient's first fit?
- Has the patient received a serious injury to the head?
