You should only telephone 999 for an ambulance for health emergencies such as loss of consciousness, severe chest pain, serious accidents, loss of blood, or any other situation where life is at risk. If you need advice, call NHS Direct on 0845 4647. They will advise you on what action to take and will call an ambulance for you if necessary.
Did You Know
Falls account for the majority of accidents in the home. You can reduce the risk of a fall by:
Keeping stairs and steps clear of clutter.
Keeping stairs and steps well-maintained and well lit.
Never leaving a baby unattended on a raised surface, such as a nappy changing station.
Did You Know
Skin is our primary barrier against germs. When the skin is cut, grazed or burned, it is much easier for germs to enter the body and cause infection. The bigger the wound, the greater the risk of infection.
Did You Know
A faint is a brief loss of consciousness caused by a temporary reduction of blood flow to the brain. If a person faints:
Lay them down and raise their legs slightly.
Open a window for fresh air.
Telephone 999 if the person does not regain consciousness quickly.
Did You Know
Babies and young children may have a more severe reaction from a burn than an adult. A burn in an adult may cause a minor loss of fluids from the body, but in a baby or young child, the same size and depth of a burn may cause a severe fluid loss.
Click here to find the right Dettol solution for your home and family.
Key Fact: A quarter of all people killed in home fires were asleep at the time. Fit a smoke alarm and check it every week.
Most accidents occur in the home, so check around yours for possible hazards. Falls account for the majority of accidents in the home. You can reduce the risk of a fall by keeping stairs and steps clear of clutter, well maintained and well lit. Never leave a baby unattended on a raised surface, such as a nappy changing station.
Every year, approximately 50,000 children around the world die following accidental poisoning. If you have children, always store cleaning products, pesticides and other chemicals, alcohol, cigarettes, lighters, matches, fuels, polythene bags, sharp objects, and medicine in locked cupboards or a high location that is beyond a child's reach.
Learn Some Basic First Aid Key Fact: Most accidents occur in the home.
If you have the opportunity to attend a recognised first aid course, take advantage of it. Alternatively, you should buy a good first aid manual or access a first aid course on-line. The BBC provides an interactive first aid course on-line at www.bbc.co.uk/health/first_aid_action.
Obtaining Help
Know what constitutes a medical emergency and when to ring 999.
Know how to contact your GP or Health Visitor, and how to get to your nearest Accident and Emergency Department.
First Aid
Keep your first aid kit out of reach of children and check your kit's contents regularly.
Wash hands before and after performing any first aid procedures or administering any medication.
Clean and cover minor wounds with a clean dressing.
Clear any spills of body fluids (e.g., blood, vomit) immediately.
Don't Panic
If an accident occurs, keep calm and reassure the injured person.
Practice Prevention
Preventing accidents from happening in the first place is always the best course of action. A few quick and easy steps around your home can prevent many emergencies:
Always read medicine labels and check dosage instructions carefully.
Check expiry dates on products and dispose of any out-of-date items.
Check equipment and furnishings (e.g., sofas, prams, carrycots) to ensure they are safe for use and conform to safety standards.
Never leave babies and young children unsupervised, particularly in the kitchen.
For Further Information
You can get additional information on home safety and accident prevention from the following websites:
For expert advice and information on a range of common childhood ailments visit www.childhealth.co.uk
Whilst the information provided here is in keeping with current best practice, we strongly advise that you attend a recognised first aid course before performing any first aid procedures.
It is sensible to keep a first aid kit handy in your home. You can purchase first aid kits from most large pharmacies, but you may find it cheaper to make up your own by buying the items individually.
You may also find it useful to include antiseptic liquid or cream, cotton wool, scissors, tweezers and a pair of disposable gloves. Make sure your kit is easily accessible in the event of an accident, but kept out of reach of children. Check its contents and any expiry dates regularly and restock as necessary.
Key Fact: Always wash your hands before and after administering first aid.
For minor wounds—such as insect bites, cuts and abrasions—you can reduce the risk of infection by cleaning the wound, treating it with an antiseptic, and covering with a clean dressing. The antiseptic will help reduce the number of germs present, while the dressing prevents more germs from entering the wound.
Tips for treating minor wounds:
Wash and dry your hands thoroughly.
Clean the wound by rinsing under running water.
Gently dry the wound with a tissue.
If the surrounding skin is dirty, temporarily cover the wound with a sterile gauze. Then clean the surrounding skin with soap and water, taking care to keep dirt away from the wound.
Pat the skin dry, treat the wound with an antiseptic cream and then cover with a plaster.
Key Fact: Raising slightly the legs of a fainted person will help improve blood flow to the brain.
Fainting may happen as a reaction to pain, fright, exhaustion or lack of food. Fainting is also common when rising after a long period of physical inactivity, particularly in a warm environment. A fainting person will fall to the floor, have a slow pulse and look pale—but recovery is usually fast.
If a person faints, lay them down and raise their legs slightly to improve blood flow to the brain. Make sure they have plenty of fresh air by opening a window, if necessary. As they regain consciousness, reassure them and help them to sit up. If they begin to feel faint again, sit them down with their head between their knees and instruct them to breathe deeply. If they do not regain consciousness quickly, you will need to telephone 999 for an ambulance.
Key Fact: The deeper the burn and the larger the burned area, the more serious the burn is. Minor burns affect only the outer layers of the skin and can make the skin red, swollen and tender. Minor scalds from hot liquids and mild sunburn are examples of minor burns. Prompt first aid treatment is often sufficient to help minor burns heal naturally and well.
Flood the injured part with cold water for 10 minutes to stop the burning and to relieve pain.
Carefully remove any jewellery, watches or clothing from the injured area before it begins to swell.
Cover the area with a sterile dressing or any other clean, non-fluffy material that will not shed particles into the wound or adhere to it. You can use a polythene bag or kitchen film to protect the wound temporarily. Burns are extremely susceptible to infection so they need protection from germs. Do not touch or burst any blisters as this is likely to introduce infection. Do not apply lotions, ointments, creams or fats to the injury.
Severe burns and scalds—especially if they cover a large area of skin—will need medical treatment immediately. If you are in any doubt about the severity of the injury, you should seek medical advice.
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