There are 3 different types of bleeds. These are Arterial, Venous or Capillary.

Arterial bleeding looks bright red and initially spurts from the body in time with the heart
beat. It is always a severe bleed and can definitely be life threatening.
Venous bleeding looks darker red and can flow out constantly without any spurting. This type
of bleed can still be severe and life threatening depending if a large vein ie the jugular in the
neck has been damaged.
Capillary bleeding is usually the result of a small surface woun
Introduction
Every year in the UK, thousands of people die or are seriously injured in accidents. Many
of these deaths could be prevented if first aid is given before emergency services arrive.
What to do
If someone is injured in an accident:
First check that you and the casualty are not in any danger. If you are, make the situation safe.
When it's safe to do so, dial 999 or 112 for an ambulance, if necessary.
Carry out basic first aid.
Read more information about what to do after an incident.
If someone is unconscious and breathing
If a person is unconscious but is breathing and has no other life-threatening conditions, they should
be placed in the recovery position until help arrives.
If someone is unconscious and not breathing
If a person is not breathing normally after an incident, call for an ambulance and then, if you can,
start CPR straight away. Use hands-only CPR if you are not trained to perform rescue breaths.
Read more about CPR, including instructions and a video on hands-only CPR.
First aid courses
The information on these pages gives some guidance on common first aid situations. However, it is
not a replacement for doing a first aid training course. Basic first aid courses are run regularly in most
areas around the UK. St John Ambulance, British Red Cross, NHS Ambulance Service and St. Andrews
First Aid all provide a selection of first aid courses.
Common accidents and emergencies
Below, in alphabetical order, are some of the most common injuries needing emergency treatment in
the UK and information on how to deal with them:
Anaphylaxis (or anaphylactic shock)

Burns and scalds

Bleeding
Choking
Drowning
Electricity
Fractures
Heart attack
Poisoning
Shock
Stroke

Anaphylaxis
Anaphylaxis (or anaphylactic shock) is a severe allergic reaction that can occur after an insect sting
or after a person eats certain foods, for example. The reaction can be very fast, happening within
seconds or minutes of contact with the thing a person is allergic to.
During anaphylactic shock, a person may find it difficult to breathe and their tongue and throat may
also swell, obstructing their airway.
If you suspect a person is experiencing anaphylactic shock, call 999 or 112 straight away.
Check if the person is carrying any medication. Some people who know they have severe allergies
may carry an adrenaline injector, which is a type of pre-loaded syringe. You can either help the
person administer their medication or, if you're trained to do so, give it to them yourself.
Make sure they are comfortable and can breathe as best they can while waiting for medical help to
arrive. If they are conscious, sitting upright is normally the best position for them.
Read more about treating anaphylaxis.
Burns and scalds
In the event of a burn or scald:
Cool the burn as quickly as possible with cold (but not ice-cold) running water for a minimum
of 10 minutes or until the pain is relieved.
Call 999 or seek medical help if necessary.
While cooling the burn, carefully remove any clothing or jewellery, unless it is attached to the
skin.
Keep the person warm using a blanket or layers of clothing (avoiding the injured area) to
prevent hypothermia. This is a risk if you are cooling a large burnt area, particularly in babies,
children and elderly people.
Cover the burn lengthways with strips of cling film or a clean plastic bag if the burn is on a
hand or foot. If no plastic film is available, use a sterile dressing or non-fluffy material. Do not
wrap the burn as this may lead to swelling and further injury.
Do not put creams, lotions or sprays on the burn.
If appropriate, raise the limb to reduce the swelling and offer pain relief.
For chemical burns, wear protective gloves, remove any clothing affected, brush the chemical off the
skin if it is a powder and rinse the burn with cold running water for a minimum of 20 minutes. If
possible, determine what has caused the injury.
Be careful not to injure yourself, and wear protective clothing if necessary. Call 999 or 112 and
arrange immediate medical attention.
Read more information about how to treat burns and scalds.
Bleeding
If someone has severe bleeding, the main aim is to prevent further loss of blood and minimise the
effects of shock (see below).
First, dial 999 and ask for an ambulance as soon as possible.
If you have disposable gloves, then use them to reduce the risk of any infection being passed on.
Check that there is nothing embedded in the wound. If there is, take care not to press down on the
object. Instead, press firmly on either side of the object and build up padding around it before
bandaging to avoid putting pressure on the object itself. If there is nothing embedded:
Apply and maintain pressure to the wound with your hand, using a clean pad if possible.
Use a clean dressing to bandage the wound firmly.
If the wound is on a limb and there are no fractures, raise the limb to decrease the flow of
blood.
If bleeding continues through the pad then apply another pad over the top and bandage it in
place. Do not remove the original pad or bandage.

If a body part has been severed, such as a finger, do not put it in direct contact with ice. Wrap it in a
plastic bag or cling film, then wrap it in a soft material and keep it cool. Once it is wrapped, if
possible, place the severed body part in crushed ice.
Always seek medical help for the bleeding unless it is minor. If someone has a nosebleed that has not
stopped after 20 minutes, go to the nearest hospital's accident and emergency (A&E) department.
Read more information on:
how to treat minor bleeding from cuts and grazes
how to treat nosebleeds
Choking
The information below is for choking in adults and children over one year old. Read information about
what to do if a baby under one year old is choking.
If the airway is only partly blocked, the person will usually be able to speak, cry, cough or breathe. In
situations like this, a person will usually be able to clear the blockage themselves. If choking is mild:
Encourage the person to continue coughing to try to clear the blockage.
Carefully remove any obvious obstruction from the mouth using your first two fingers and
thumb.
Do not put objects or fingers into the person's throat as this could push the obstruction further
into the airway or cause vomiting.
If the obstruction is severe and the person is struggling to breathe, give up to five back blows
(between the shoulder blades), using the heel of your hand. Carefully check the mouth and, if
possible, remove any obstruction after every blow.
If this does not clear the obstruction, perform abdominal thrusts by following the steps below. This
technique should not be used on babies under one year old, pregnant women or people who are
obese:
Stand behind the person who is choking.
Place your arms around their waist and bend them well forward.
Clench one fist and place it just above the person's belly button and below the breastbone.
Place your other hand on top, then pull sharply inwards and upwards.
Repeat this up to five times until the object stuck in their throat comes out of their mouth.
The aim is to get the obstruction out with each chest thrust rather than necessarily doing all five. If
the obstruction does not clear after three cycles of back blows and chest thrusts, dial 999 or 112 for
an ambulance and continue until help arrives.
The person choking should always be checked over by a healthcare professional afterwards to check
for any injuries caused by abdominal thrusts or any smaller pieces of the obstruction that remain.
Read more information about what to do if someone is choking.
Drowning
Do not enter the water to help unless it is absolutely essential.
Once the person is on land, if they are not breathing, open the airway and give five initial rescue
breaths before starting CPR. If you are alone, perform CPR for one minute before calling for
emergency help.
Find out how to give CPR, including rescue breaths.
If the person is unconscious but still breathing, turn them into the recovery position with their head
lower than their body to allow water to drain out, and call an ambulance immediately.
Electricity
If someone has been electrocuted, dial 999 or 112 for an ambulance.
Switch off the electrical current at the mains to break the contact between the person and the
electrical supply.
If you cannot reach the mains supply:
Do not go near or touch the person until you are sure any electrical supply has been cut off.
Protect yourself by standing on some insulating material (such as a phone book).
Using something dry and non-metal, such as a wooden broom handle, push the person away
from the electrical source, or move the source away from the person if this is easier.
If the person is not breathing, carry out CPR and call an ambulance.
Always seek medical help unless the shock is very minor.
Fractures
It can be difficult to tell if a person has a broken bone, or a joint or muscle injury. If you're in any
doubt, treat the injury as a broken bone.
If the person is unconscious, has difficulty breathing or is bleeding severely, these must be dealt with
first.

If the person is conscious, prevent any further pain or damage by keeping the injury still until you get
them safely to hospital. Assess the injury and decide the best way to get them to hospital. If they
have a broken finger or arm, you may be able to drive them yourself without causing more harm.
If they have a broken leg, do not move the person but keep them in the position you found
them in. Support the injured part with anything you have handy, for example rolled up
blankets or clothes. Call for an ambulance.
If you suspect they have injured or broken their spine (back) do not move them and call for an
ambulance.
Look out for signs of shock. If the person is pale, cold and clammy, has a weak pulse and rapid
shallow breathing, they are probably in shock (see below).
If you think that the person may have shock, lie them down and loosen any tight clothing. Do not
raise an injured leg. Otherwise, if their injuries allow, raise their legs above the level of their heart by
placing something suitable under their feet such as blankets or cushions.
Do not give the person anything to eat or drink as they may need a general anaesthetic when they
reach hospital.
Read more information about specific broken bones:
broken ankle
broken arm or wrist
broken collarbone
broken nose
broken toe
fractured ribs
hip fracture
Heart attack
A heart attack is one of the most common life-threatening heart conditions in the UK.
If you think a person is having or has had a heart attack, make them as comfortable as possible and
call 999 or 112 for an ambulance. Symptoms of a heart attack include:
chest pain the pain is usually located in the centre of the chest and can feel like a sensation
of pressure, tightness or squeezing
pain in other parts of the body it can feel as if the pain is travelling from the chest to one or
both arms, jaw, neck, back or abdomen
Sit the person down.
If they are conscious, reassure them and give them a 300mg aspirin tablet to chew slowly (unless
there is any reason not to give them aspirin, for example if they are under 16 or allergic to it). If the
person has any medication for angina, such as a spray or tablets, help them to take it. Monitor their
vital signs, such as breathing, until help arrives.
If the person becomes unconscious, open their airway, check their breathing and, if necessary, start
CPR.
Poisoning
Poisoning is potentially life threatening. Most cases of poisoning in the UK occur when a person
has swallowed a toxic substance such as bleach, an overdose of a prescription drug or eaten wild
plants and fungi. Alcohol poisoning can cause similar symptoms.
If you think someone has swallowed a poisonous substance, call 999 or 112 to get immediate medical
help.
The effects of poisoning depend on the substance swallowed but can include vomiting, loss of
consciousness, pain or a burning sensation:
Find out what has been swallowed so you can tell the paramedic or doctor.
Do not give the person anything to eat or drink unless a health professional advises you to.
Never try to cause vomiting.
Stay with the person as their condition may get worse and they could become unconscious.
If the person is unconscious, while you wait for help:
Make sure the airway is open and they are breathing. You open the airway by gently tilting the
head back and lifting the chin to move the tongue away from the back of the mouth.
If they are breathing, turn them into the recovery position, preferably with their head down so
any vomit can escape without being swallowed or inhaled.
If they are not breathing, perform CPR until they start breathing or medical help arrives.
If there are any chemicals on their mouth, use a face shield or pocket mask to protect yourself
if you give rescue breaths.
Do not leave the unconscious person as they may roll onto their back. This could cause them to
vomit, which could then reach their lungs.

Read more information about treating someone who has been poisoned and treating alcohol
poisoning.
Shock
In the case of a serious injury or illness, it is important to watch for signs of shock.
Shock is a life-threatening condition that occurs when the circulatory system fails and, as a result,
deprives the vital organs of oxygen. This is usually due to severe blood loss, but it can also happen
after severe burns, severe vomiting, a heart attack, bacterial infection or severe allergic reaction
(anaphylaxis).
The type of shock described here is not the same thing as the emotional response of feeling shocked,
which can also occur after an accident.
Signs of shock include:
pale, cold, clammy skin
sweating
rapid, shallow breathing
weakness and dizziness
feeling sick and possibly vomiting
thirst
yawning
sighing
If you notice any signs of shock in a casualty, seek medical help immediately:
Dial 999 or 112 as soon as possible and ask for an ambulance.
Treat any obvious injuries.
Lay the person down if their injuries allow you to and, if possible, raise and support their legs.
Use a coat or blanket to keep them warm, but not smothered.
Do not give them anything to eat or drink.
Give lots of comfort and reassurance.
Monitor the person. If they stop breathing, start CPR.
Do not give them anything to drink.
Stroke
The FAST guide is the most important thing to remember when dealing with people who have had a
stroke. The earlier they receive treatment, the better. Call for emergency medical help straight away.
If you suspect a person has had a stroke, use the FAST guide:
Facial weakness: is the person unable to smile evenly, or are their eyes or mouth droopy?
Arm weakness: is the person only able to raise one arm?
Speech problems: is the person unable to speak clearly or understand you?
Time to call 999 or 112 for emergency help if a person has any of these symptoms.
Read more information about the symptoms of a stroke.
Getting help in an emergency
999 has been the emergency services number in the UK for many years. But you can now also call
112 to get help.
112 is the single emergency telephone number for the European Union and will get you through to
the emergency services wherever you are in the EU.
When you call 999 or 112 you will be asked what service you require and also:
your telephone number
the address you are at
what is wrong with the casualty and are they unconscious, not breathing or bleeding
You may be offered advice as to how to assist the casualty until help arrives.
ANAPHYLAXIS TREATMENT

Adrenaline injections
Positioning and resuscitation:

In most cases, the person should lie flat with their legs raised on a chair or a low table, to help
maintain blood flow to the head and heart.
Pregnant women should lie down on their left side to avoid putting too much pressure on the
large vein that leads to the heart.

If the person is conscious but having trouble breathing, they should sit up to make breathing
easier.
If the person is unconscious, check that their airways are open and clear, and also check their
breathing. Then put them in the recovery position (see below) to make sure they dont choke
on their vomit.
Place the person on their side, making sure they are supported by one leg and one arm. Open
the airway by tilting the head and lifting the chin.
If the person's breathing or heart stops, cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) should be
performed.
Admission to hospital
Even if adrenaline is given, the person will need to go to hospital for observation (usually for 6
to 12 hours) as symptoms can occasionally return during this period.
While in hospital, an oxygen mask can be used to help breathing, and fluids given by an
intravenous drip (directly into a vein) can help to increase blood pressure.
As well as adrenaline, additional medications such as antihistamines and corticosteroids can
be used to help relieve symptoms.
Blood tests may also be carried out while youre in hospital to confirm anaphylaxis.
You should be able to leave hospital when the symptoms are under control and its thought
that they will not quickly return. This may be after a few hours, but you may have to stay in
hospital for a few days if the symptoms were severe.
You may be asked to take antihistamines and corticosteroid tablets two to three days after
leaving hospital, to help stop your symptoms returning.
You will probably be asked to attend a follow-up appointment, so you can be given advice
about how you can avoid further episodes of anaphylaxis. An adrenaline auto-injector may be
given to you for emergency use between leaving hospital and attending the follow-up
appointment.

How to resuscitate a child

Below is the full detailed cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) sequence for infants and children. It's
highly recommended that every parent goes to a first aid course as it makes this process much easier
to understand and remember.
In a life-threatening emergency, dial 999. If your child is coughing or is wheezy, call NHS 111 or your
GP for advice.
Child and baby CPR steps
1. Ensure the area is safe
Check for hazards, such as electrical equipment or traffic.
2. Check your child's responsiveness
Gently stimulate your child and ask loudly, "Are you all right?".
Don't shake infants or children with suspected neck injuries.
3A. If your child responds by answering or moving
Leave them in the position in which they were found (provided they're not in danger).
Check their condition and get help if needed.
Reassess the situation regularly.
3B. If your child doesn't respond
Shout for help.
If the child is under one year old:
Ensure that the head is in a neutral position, with the head and neck in line and not tilted.
At the same time, with your fingertip(s) under the point of your child's chin, lift the chin. Don't
push on the soft tissues under the chin as this may block the airway.
If the child is over one year old:
Open your child's airway by tilting the head and lifting the chin.
To do this, place your hand on their forehead and gently tilt their head back, leaving them in
the position in which you found them.
At the same time, with your fingertip(s) under the point of your child's chin, lift the chin. Don't
push on the soft tissues under the chin as this may block the airway.
This may be easier if the child is turned carefully on to their back.
If you think there may have been an injury to the neck, tilt the head carefully, a small amount at a
time, until the airway is open.
4. Keeping the airway open, look, listen and feel for normal breathing by putting your face close to
your child's face and looking along their chest

 Look for chest movements.

Listen at the child's nose and mouth for breathing sounds.
Feel for air movement on your cheek.
Look, listen and feel for no more than 10 seconds before deciding that they're not breathing.
5A. If your child is breathing normally
Turn them on to their side.
Check for continued breathing.
5B. If your child isn't breathing or is breathing infrequently and irregularly
Carefully remove any obvious obstruction in the mouth.
Give five initial rescue breaths (see below).
While doing this, note any gag or cough response.
Rescue breaths (or mouth-to-mouth resuscitation) for a baby under one year
Ensure that the head is in a neutral position and lift the chin.
Take a breath and cover your baby's mouth and nose with your mouth, making sure it's
sealed. If you can't cover both the mouth and nose at the same time, just seal one with your
mouth. If you choose the nose, close the lips to stop air from escaping.
Blow a breath steadily into the baby's mouth and nose over 1 to 1.5 seconds. It should
be sufficient to make the chest visibly rise.
Keeping their head tilted and chin lifted, take your mouth away and watch for the chest to fall
as air comes out.
Take another breath and repeat this sequence five times.
Rescue breaths (or mouth-to-mouth resuscitation) for a child over one year
Tilt the head and lift the chin.
Close the soft part of their nose using the index finger and thumb of the hand that's on their
forehead.
Open their mouth a little but keep the chin pointing upwards.
Take a breath and place your lips around their mouth, making sure it's sealed.
Blow a breath steadily into their mouth over about 1 to 1.5 seconds, watching for the chest to
rise.
Keeping their head tilted and chin lifted, take your mouth away and watch for the chest to fall
as air comes out.
Take another breath and repeat this sequence five times. Check that your child's chest rises
and falls in the same way as if they were breathing normally.
5C. If you have difficulty achieving effective breathing in your child, the airway may be obstructed
Open the child's mouth and remove any visible obstruction. Don't poke your fingers or any
object blindly into the mouth.
Ensure that there's adequate head tilt and chin lift, but that the neck is not overextended.
Make up to five attempts to achieve effective breaths (enough to make the chest visibly rise).
If still unsuccessful, move on to chest compressions combined with rescue breaths.
6. Chest compressions general guidance
To avoid compressing the stomach, find the point where the lowest ribs join in the middle, and
then one finger's width above that. Compress the breastbone.
Push down by roughly one-third of the depth of the chest.
Release the pressure, then rapidly repeat at a rate of about 100 compressions a minute.
After 30 compressions, tilt the head, lift the chin and give two effective breaths.
Continue compressions and breaths in a ratio of two breaths for every 30 compressions.
Although the rate of compressions will be 100 a minute, the actual number delivered will be less than
100 because of the pauses to give breaths.
The best method for compression varies slightly between infants and children.
Chest compression in babies less than one year old
Do the compressions on the breastbone with the tips of two fingers, not the whole hand or
with two hands.
Chest compression in children over one year
Place the heel of one hand over the lower third of the breastbone (as described above).
Lift the fingers to ensure that pressure is not applied over the ribs.
Position yourself vertically above the chest and, with your arm straight, compress the
breastbone so that you push it down by approximately one-third of the depth of the chest.
In larger children, or if you're small, this may be done more easily by using both hands with
the fingers interlocked, avoiding pressure on the ribs.

If nobody has responded to your shout for help at the beginning and you're alone, continue
resuscitation for about one minute before trying to get help (for example, by dialling 999 on a mobile
phone).
7. Continue resuscitation until
Your child shows signs of life (normal breathing, coughing, movement of arms or legs).
Further qualified help arrives.
You become exhausted.