Every year in the UK, thousands of people die or are seriously injured in incidents. Many deaths could be prevented if first aid is given before emergency services arrive.
What to do
If someone is injured you should:
- first check that you and the casualty aren't in any danger, and, if possible, make the situation safe
- if necessary, dial 999 or 112 for an ambulance when it's safe to do so
- carry out basic first aid
Read more about what to do after an incident.
If someone is unconscious and breathing
If a person is unconscious but breathing, and has no other injuries that would stop them being moved, place them in the recovery position until help arrives.
Keep them under observation to ensure they continue to breathe normally, and don't obstruct their airway.
If someone is unconscious and not breathing
If a person isn't breathing normally after an incident, call an ambulance and start CPR straight away. Use hands-only CPR if you aren't trained to perform rescue breaths.
Read more about CPR, including instructions and a video about hands-only CPR.
Common accidents and emergencies
Below, in alphabetical order, are some of the most common injuries that need emergency treatment in the UK and information about how to deal with them: