How would you recognise it? | What to do immediately? | What to do afterwards? | Other info | |
Bleeding heavily from a wound
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Can’t be covered by a plaster | Put pressure on the wound. (You can use things like a scarf, tea towel, t-shirt)![]() |
Call 999 and keep pressure on until help arrives |
Stopping or slowing the flow of blood will help it to clot. Keeping the affected area above the level of the heart may also help |
Burns
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Redness and severe pain after coming into contact with something hot
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Cool the burn with cold running water for at least 10 minutes
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Call 999 if the burn is severe or if a child has been burned.
After the burn has been cooled, cover it with cling film or a clean plastic bag if available |
Cold running water will take the heat out of the burn; this can reduce pain and the risk of scarring.
If you don’t have cold water, use any harmless liquid such as milk, orange juice or fizzy drinks |
Asthma attack
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The person is wheezing and finding it difficult to breathe | Help them take their medication ![]() Reassure them and help them sit in a comfortable position |
Stay with them until they feel better.
If the attack becomes severe, call 999 or get someone else to do it |
When someone has an asthma attack, it is difficult for them to breathe. This is because the muscles in the airways tighten and become narrow.
Their medication will relax the muscles
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Choking
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The person might be clutching at their chest or neck and won’t be able to speak, cough or breathe. | Bend them forwards and hit them firmly on their back between their shoulder blades using the heel of your hand (Back blows)![]() |
Continue until the object is no longer causing an obstruction or help arrives | Hitting someone firmly on the back creates a strong vibration and pressure in the airway which is often enough to dislodge the object.
Dislodging the object will allow them to breathe normally again |
Seizure
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The person may have collapsed
Their body may stiffen and they may make jerky movements They might also have froth around their mouth |
Use a blanket or clothing to prevent their head from injury.
DO NOT RESTRAIN THEM |
Call 999 if necessary
After the seizure, help them to rest on their side with their head tilted back |
Restraining them may hurt you or them. Let the seizure run its course
Putting them on their side with their head tilted back afterwards will make sure they keep breathing |