Emergency Care Basics Before Help Arrives

Important note

The goal here is not advanced treatment. It is staying calm, staying safe, and doing the most basic helpful things until trained help arrives.

1. Make sure the scene is safe

• Do not rush into traffic, fire, unstable structures, or electrical hazards
• Check for danger to yourself first
• If the area is not safe, keep your distance and call for help

You cannot help effectively if you become another casualty.

2. Call for help early

• Call emergency services right away for serious injury, trouble breathing, severe bleeding, chest pain, loss of consciousness, or suspected stroke
• Give clear location details first
• Follow dispatcher instructions carefully

3. Check responsiveness and breathing

• Try to speak to the person clearly and calmly
• Look for normal breathing
• If they are unresponsive or not breathing normally, call emergency services immediately

If you are trained in CPR, follow your training and dispatcher instructions.

4. Severe bleeding: use direct pressure

• Use a clean cloth, dressing, or gauze if available
• Apply firm direct pressure to the wound
• Keep pressure steady until help arrives or bleeding is controlled

Severe bleeding is one of the most important immediate priorities.

5. Keep the person still and calm

• Speak calmly and clearly
• Encourage them to stay still if injury is suspected
• Keep them warm with a blanket or coat if needed

6. If they are awake, do not overload them

• Ask simple questions
• Do not give food, drink, or medication unless specifically appropriate and you are sure it is safe
• Watch for changes in breathing, alertness, or condition

7. Be ready to share useful information

• What happened
• When it happened
• Any major symptoms you observed
• Known allergies or medical conditions if available
• Any medications the person regularly takes if known

Recognising emergencies that need immediate help

Some situations are not always obvious emergencies. Call emergency services immediately if you observe any of these:

• Chest pain or pressure: Especially if it spreads to the arm, jaw, or neck, a possible heart attack. Do not wait to see if it passes.
• Difficulty breathing: Laboured, fast, noisy, or absent breathing always warrants a call to emergency services.
• Sudden severe headache: Described as "the worst headache of my life" can indicate a serious event such as a brain bleed. Do not dismiss it.
• Signs of stroke (FAST): Face drooping, Arm weakness, Speech difficulty, Time to call 911. Stroke outcomes depend heavily on how quickly treatment begins.
• Uncontrolled bleeding: If direct pressure isn't slowing bleeding significantly within a few minutes, this is a medical emergency.
• Loss of consciousness: Even briefly. Always call for help when someone loses consciousness unexpectedly.
• Allergic reaction with breathing difficulty or swelling: Anaphylaxis can progress rapidly. If an epinephrine auto-injector (EpiPen) is available and the person has a known allergy, use it as directed while calling for help.
• Suspected poisoning or overdose: Call Poison Control (1-800-222-1222 in the U.S.) or emergency services immediately. Note what was taken and when.
• Seizure: If a seizure lasts more than 5 minutes, if the person doesn't regain consciousness, or if it's their first known seizure, call 911.

Common situations and what to do

A few specific scenarios come up frequently. These are general preparedness guidelines only, not a substitute for proper first aid training:

• Choking (conscious adult or child over 1 year): Encourage coughing if the person can still cough effectively. If coughing is ineffective and they cannot speak or breathe, call 911 and begin abdominal thrusts (Heimlich maneuver) if you are trained to do so. For infants under 1 year, the technique is different, back blows and chest thrusts, not abdominal thrusts.
• Burns: For minor burns, cool immediately with cool (not cold or icy) running water for at least 10–20 minutes. Do not use ice, butter, or toothpaste. Cover with a clean non-stick dressing. Seek medical attention for burns larger than 3 inches, burns on the face, hands, feet, joints, or genitals, or any burn that looks deep or charred.
• Suspected broken bone: Immobilize the area without trying to straighten it. Apply ice wrapped in cloth to reduce swelling. Seek medical care. If the injury involves the spine, neck, or head, keep the person still and call emergency services rather than moving them.
• Shock: Signs include pale, cold, clammy skin, rapid weak pulse, rapid breathing, confusion, or faintness. Lay the person down and elevate their legs about 12 inches if there's no head, neck, or spine injury. Keep them warm, calm, and still. Do not give anything to eat or drink. Call 911.
• Fainting: If someone feels faint, have them lie down and raise their legs. If they've already fainted, position them on their back and check breathing. Most fainting episodes resolve quickly, if the person doesn't regain consciousness within a minute or two, call emergency services.
• Eye injury: Do not rub. If a chemical is involved, flush immediately with lots of clean water for 15–20 minutes and call Poison Control or seek emergency care. For a foreign object, do not try to remove it if it's embedded, cover gently and seek care.

What this page is not

This page is not a substitute for first aid training, CPR certification, professional medical advice, or emergency services. It is a basic preparedness page for general awareness only. Consider taking an accredited first aid and CPR course, it is one of the highest-value preparedness investments you can make.

Simple takeaway

In an emergency, protect yourself first, call for help early, focus on the basics, and stay calm. Knowing how to recognize a serious situation and what to do in the first few minutes can make a meaningful difference before trained help arrives.