In an emergency, call 999 nowFree from any phone, including a locked mobile with no credit. Ask for an ambulance. Stay on the line — the call handler will talk you through what to do until help arrives.

First aid quick reference

What to do in the first few minutes, for the situations people most often face at home. Every set of steps below is taken from the NHS or St John Ambulance page listed with it.

By the AllHealth UK editorial teamLast reviewed 26 August 2026Next review due 26 February 2027Compiled from published NHS and NICE guidance. Not reviewed by a clinician.

Call 999 straight away if

Someone is unconscious, or is not breathing normally
Someone is choking and cannot cough, speak or breathe
Bleeding is heavy and will not stop with firm pressure
Signs of anaphylaxis: swelling of the lips, tongue or throat, wheezing, or sudden collapse after a sting, food or medicine
Chest pain that feels tight, heavy or like squeezing, or that spreads to the arm, neck or jaw — do not wait to see if it passes
Sudden face drooping, arm weakness or slurred speech — act F.A.S.T., this is a stroke
A seizure that will not stop, or a first-ever seizure
A serious accident, a deep burn, or an injury you think may be life-changing

If it is urgent but not life-threatening, use NHS 111 online or call 111. It is open 24 hours a day and will tell you where to go.

Burns & Scalds

Immediate action required: call 999 or go to A&E if

The burn is very large or deep — any burn bigger than the person's hand
The burn is on the face, genitals or bottom
The burn was caused by an acid, a chemical or electricity
The person is struggling to breathe, or has soot around the nose or mouth

What to do, in order

1Stop the burning — move them away from the heat source and put out any flames
2Cool the burn under cool running water for 20 minutes — not ice, not iced water. Start as soon as you can; it is still worth doing up to 3 hours afterwards
3Remove clothing and jewellery near the burn while cooling, unless it is stuck to the skin
4Once cooled, lay cling film loosely over the burn lengthways — never wrapped around, as the area needs room to swell. For a hand or foot, a clean plastic bag works better
5Keep the person warm while you cool the burn — especially children, who lose heat fast
6Paracetamol or ibuprofen will help with the pain

What not to do

Do NOT use ice, iced water, butter, toothpaste, or any cream or ointment
Do NOT burst blisters — they are protecting the skin underneath
Do NOT use a fluffy dressing, like cotton wool, that can stick to the burn
Do NOT try to remove clothing that is stuck to the burn

Sources and further reading

This page was written from the following published guidance. All links checked 26 August 2026.

Choking (Adult)

Immediate action required: call 999 or go to A&E if

The blockage has not cleared after the first five back blows and five abdominal thrusts
They cannot cough, speak, breathe or make any sound
They become unresponsive at any point — start CPR

What to do, in order

1Ask them: 'Are you choking?' If they can cough, speak or breathe, encourage them to keep coughing — that is the most effective way to clear it
2If coughing is not working: stand behind them, lean them well forward, and give up to five sharp back blows between the shoulder blades with the heel of your hand
3Check their mouth after each back blow, and take out anything you can clearly see
4If the blockage has not cleared: give up to five abdominal thrusts — stand behind them, make a fist just above the navel, grasp it with your other hand, and pull sharply inwards and upwards. Check their mouth after each one
5If it still has not cleared after those five thrusts, call 999 now — put the phone on speaker so you can keep going
6Keep alternating five back blows and five abdominal thrusts until help arrives
7If they become unresponsive, start CPR and make sure 999 has been called
8Anyone who has been given abdominal thrusts should be checked by a doctor afterwards, even if they feel fine — the thrusts can cause internal injury that is not obvious at the time

What not to do

Do NOT sweep a finger blindly round their mouth — you can push the object further down. Look first, and only remove what you can clearly see
Do NOT give abdominal thrusts to a pregnant woman or a baby — use chest thrusts instead
Do NOT slap them on the back while they are upright — lean them forward first, or you can drive the object further in

Sources and further reading

This page was written from the following published guidance. All links checked 26 August 2026.

Cuts & Heavy Bleeding

Immediate action required: call 999 or go to A&E if

The bleeding will not stop, or the blood is spurting and bright red
The wound is very large or deep, or there is something stuck in it
They lose feeling near the wound, or cannot move the part below it
It is a bad cut on the face or the palm of the hand
They go pale, cold and clammy, or start to feel faint — this is shock from blood loss

What to do, in order

1Look at the wound first and check nothing is stuck in it — glass, metal or grit
2If nothing is embedded, press firmly and directly on the wound with a clean cloth, a bandage, or your hand
3If it is bleeding heavily, call 999 while you keep pressing — put the phone on speaker
4Keep pressing until the bleeding is under control. Resist lifting the cloth to look
5If blood soaks through, put another layer on top — do not take the first one off
6If they look pale, cold or clammy, help them lie down and raise their legs, loosen tight clothing and keep them warm
7Once the bleeding is controlled, cover with a sterile dressing. If you have bandaged it, check circulation every 10 minutes — press the skin beyond the bandage for 5 seconds until it pales, and check the colour returns within 2 seconds

What not to do

Do NOT remove anything embedded in the wound — press firmly on either side of it instead, and build up padding around it
Do NOT use cotton wool directly on a wound — the fibres stick
Do NOT rule out a tourniquet. UK guidance changed: for life-threatening bleeding from an arm or leg that direct pressure is not controlling, a tourniquet should be applied as soon as possible. Use a proper one if there is a first aid kit to hand

Sources and further reading

This page was written from the following published guidance. All links checked 26 August 2026.

Severe Allergic Reaction (Anaphylaxis)

Immediate action required: call 999 or go to A&E if

Their lips, mouth, throat or tongue suddenly swell
They are breathing very fast, wheezing, or struggling to breathe
Their throat feels tight, or they are struggling to swallow
Their skin, tongue or lips turn blue, grey or pale — on brown or black skin this is easiest to see on the palms or the soles of the feet
They suddenly become very confused, drowsy or dizzy, or faint and cannot be woken
A child goes limp or floppy, or stops responding as they normally would

What to do, in order

1If they have an adrenaline auto-injector (EpiPen, Jext, Emerade), use it straight away — firmly into the outer thigh, following the instructions on the side. It works through clothing
2Call 999 immediately after, and say it is anaphylaxis
3Remove the trigger if you can — if it was an insect sting, scrape it off the skin
4Lie them down with their legs raised. If they are struggling to breathe, raise their shoulders or sit them up slowly. If they are pregnant, lay them on their left side
5If they are no better 5 minutes after the first injection, or the symptoms come back, give a second dose with another auto-injector — ideally into the other thigh
6If they become unresponsive and are breathing normally, put them in the recovery position
7If they are unresponsive and not breathing normally, start CPR

What not to do

Do NOT let them stand or walk at any time — even if they say they feel better. Standing up after a severe reaction can cause a sudden, sometimes fatal, collapse
Do NOT leave them on their own
Do NOT give them anything to eat or drink
Do NOT wait to see whether it settles before using the auto-injector — the benefit always outweighs the risk
Do NOT assume it is over because they improve. Symptoms can return hours later, which is why everyone with anaphylaxis goes to hospital

Sources and further reading

This page was written from the following published guidance. All links checked 26 August 2026.

Fainting

Immediate action required: call 999 or go to A&E if

They are not breathing — start CPR
They cannot be woken within 1 minute
They have not fully recovered, or have trouble speaking or moving
They have chest pain, or a pounding, fluttering or irregular heartbeat
They shook or jerked — this may have been a seizure
They fainted while exercising, or while lying down
They hurt themselves badly as they fell

What to do, in order

1If someone feels faint: help them sit or lie down before they fall, and raise their legs
2If they have fainted: shout for help, then check whether they respond and whether they are breathing normally — look and listen for up to 10 seconds
3If they are NOT breathing normally, call 999 and start CPR immediately
4If they ARE breathing normally, lay them on their back and raise their legs above the level of the heart. If they are pregnant, especially past 28 weeks, lay them on their side instead
5Loosen anything tight around the neck, and make sure they have fresh air
6Most people come round within about 20 seconds
7When they come round, keep them lying down for a few minutes, then let them sit up slowly
8Once they are fully alert they can sip some water. Only give something sugary if they have diabetes or you think their blood sugar is low
9Anyone who has fainted should see a GP afterwards to find out why. It is usually nothing serious, but it should be checked

What not to do

Do NOT sit or stand them up quickly — they may faint again
Do NOT give food or drink while they are still drowsy or not fully alert
Do NOT slap them or throw water on them
Do NOT crowd around them — they need air

Sources and further reading

This page was written from the following published guidance. All links checked 26 August 2026.

Nosebleed

Immediate action required: call 999 or go to A&E if

The bleeding lasts longer than 10 to 15 minutes, or seems excessive
It started after a blow to the head
They are swallowing enough blood to make them vomit
They feel weak, dizzy, or are having difficulty breathing

What to do, in order

1Sit them upright and lean them slightly forward
2Pinch the soft part of the nose, just below the bony bridge, firmly between thumb and finger
3Hold for a full 10 to 15 minutes without letting go — time it
4Get them to breathe through their mouth
5You can hold an ice pack, or frozen peas wrapped in a tea towel, on the top of the nose. It may help, though the evidence is weak — do not stop pinching to do it
6For 24 hours afterwards: no blowing or picking the nose, no picking scabs, no heavy lifting or strenuous exercise, no lying flat, and no hot drinks or alcohol
7See a GP if nosebleeds keep happening, if a child under 2 has had one, if they take a blood thinner such as warfarin, or if they have a clotting condition such as haemophilia

What not to do

Do NOT tilt the head back — blood runs down the back of the throat, where it can be swallowed and make them vomit, or block the airway
Do NOT pack the nose with tissue or cotton wool
Do NOT keep releasing to check — hold the full 10 to 15 minutes
Do NOT pinch the bony bridge — it is the soft part below it that needs the pressure

Sources and further reading

This page was written from the following published guidance. All links checked 26 August 2026.

Sprains & Strains

Immediate action required: call 999 or go to A&E if

You heard a crack at the moment of injury
The injured part has changed shape, or points at an odd angle
It is numb, tingling, or has pins and needles
The skin around it has changed colour — blue or grey — or is cold to touch

What to do, in order

1For the first 2 to 3 days follow PRICE: Protection, Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation
2Protection — support the injury, for example with a support bandage or shoes that hold the foot and ankle firmly
3Rest — stop exercise and try not to put weight on it
4Ice — an ice pack, or frozen peas wrapped in a tea towel, for up to 20 minutes every 2 to 3 hours
5Compression — wrap a bandage around it during the day to support it
6Elevation — keep it raised on a pillow as much as you can
7For pain, try paracetamol first, with an ibuprofen gel, mousse or spray rubbed on the skin to bring the swelling down. Take ibuprofen tablets only if you need to
8As soon as you can move it without pain stopping you, start moving it again so the joint or muscle does not stiffen up
9Most sprains and strains feel better after 2 weeks. Avoid strenuous exercise such as running for up to 8 weeks

What not to do

Do NOT apply heat — no hot baths, saunas or heat packs — for the first couple of days
Do NOT have a massage, or drink alcohol, in the first couple of days
Do NOT rest it completely for weeks. Early gentle movement, once it is not too painful, is what current NHS advice recommends
Do NOT 'walk it off' — if you cannot put weight on it, or it is very painful, get it checked

Sources and further reading

This page was written from the following published guidance. All links checked 26 August 2026.

Sprains and strains — NHS