Always call 999 or 112 for an ambulance if someone
- stops breathing
- is struggling to breathe
- is unresponsive
- is acutely confused and unaware of what is going on around them
- won’t wake up
- has a severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis)
- has chest pain
- has signs of a stroke
- has a fit or series of fits that won’t stop or it is the first time they have had a fit, even if they seem to recover
- has major bleeding which does not stop after 10 minutes of continuous pressure bleeding
- has a severe burn or scald
- has a spotty, purple-red rash anywhere on the body that doesn’t fade when you press a glass against it – this could be a sign of blood poisoning (septicaemia)
- has had a major trauma, such as after a serious road traffic accident, a stabbing, a shooting, a fall from height, or a serious head injury
- they are under 8 weeks and you are very worried about them
- you think someone may have seriousuly injured them
You should also call for an ambulance for a baby if:
Always take a baby or child to A&E if they:
- have a fever and are persistently lethargic despite having paracetamol or ibuprofen
- have severe abdominal pain
- have a leg or arm injury and can’t use the limb
For useful information on NHS Services please go to: http://www.nhs.uk/NHSENGLAND/ABOUTNHSSERVICES/Pages/NHSservices.aspx