First Aid When Help May Be Delayed

Unconscious and not breathing normally

Resuscitation Council UK 2025 guidance says to call 999 as soon as you find an unresponsive person, then assess breathing with the call handler’s support. If they are not breathing normally, start chest compressions in the centre of the chest: 100–120 compressions a minute, about 5–6 cm deep in an adult, allowing full recoil and minimising pauses. If trained and willing, use 30 compressions followed by 2 rescue breaths; otherwise continue chest-compression-only CPR. Switch on an AED as soon as one is available, attach the pads as shown and follow its spoken/visual prompts. Continue until professional help takes over, the person shows clear signs of life, or you cannot continue.

Choking

If the person can cough effectively, encourage coughing and watch for deterioration. If the cough becomes ineffective, give up to 5 back blows. If that does not clear the obstruction, give up to 5 abdominal thrusts. If choking is still not relieved, call 999/112 and continue alternating 5 back blows with 5 abdominal thrusts until it clears or the person becomes unresponsive. Do not perform a blind finger sweep. If they become unresponsive, start CPR. Anyone treated with abdominal thrusts or chest compressions after choking should be assessed by a healthcare professional because complications can occur.

Major bleeding

Expose the wound if you can do so safely and apply firm, continuous direct pressure with a dressing or clean material. Add more material on top if blood soaks through rather than repeatedly lifting the first pad to look. Call 999/112 for severe bleeding. If an object is embedded, do not pull it out; apply pressure around it and wait for professional help. Tourniquets require appropriate training and are for catastrophic limb bleeding when indicated by current first-aid guidance.

Burns

Move the person away from the heat source if safe. Cool a significant burn promptly with cool running water; St John Ambulance advises cooling severe burns for at least 20 minutes while emergency help is arranged. Remove jewellery or loose items before swelling if they are not stuck to the skin. Do not pull off clothing stuck to a burn, apply ice, butter or creams, or burst blisters.

Shock

Shock after major bleeding, burns or injury is life-threatening. Treat the cause you can see, call 999/112, help the person lie down if appropriate, keep them warm and monitor breathing and responsiveness. Do not give food or drink if major injury or emergency treatment is likely.

Fractures and suspected spinal injury

Keep the injured area still and support it in the position found. Do not try to straighten a deformed limb. For major trauma, severe pain, loss of circulation/sensation or suspected spine injury, call 999/112. Move someone with a possible spinal injury only if remaining in place creates a greater immediate danger or airway/breathing requires it.

Head injury warning signs

A worsening headache, repeated vomiting, increasing drowsiness/confusion, seizure, difficulty speaking/walking, unequal pupils, loss of consciousness or fluid/blood from the ears/nose are reasons for urgent emergency assessment. After a serious head injury, call 999/112 and avoid unnecessary movement.

Poisoning

NHS guidance says to get medical advice immediately if poisoning is suspected and to call 999/A&E for severe features such as loss of consciousness, breathing difficulty or seizures. Keep packaging or container information for clinicians if safe. Do not make the person vomit and do not give them food or drink unless professionals instruct you.

Hypothermia and heat illness

For hypothermia, move the person to shelter, remove wet clothing if practical, insulate from the ground, warm gradually and call 999/112 for significant hypothermia or reduced responsiveness. Avoid direct intense heat on the skin. Heatstroke is an emergency: move to a cool place, remove excess clothing, cool actively and call 999/112. Confusion or deterioration in hot conditions is a red flag.

Seizures and dehydration

During a seizure, protect the person from nearby hazards, cushion the head, do not restrain them and do not put anything in the mouth. Time the seizure and follow emergency guidance, especially if it is prolonged, repeated, a first seizure, occurs in water, involves injury/pregnancy, or recovery is abnormal. For dehydration in an awake person able to swallow, small regular fluids may help, but severe weakness, confusion, fainting or inability to keep fluids down needs urgent medical assessment.

Verify / learn

These references are resolved from GPN’s central source registry so authority, coverage and source changes can be managed in one place. If a current official source conflicts with this guide, follow the current official source.

Editorial review date: 30 September 2026. Next scheduled review: 28 January 2027.