Call 999 or 112 when there is:
- chest pain
- difficulty in breathing
- unconsciousness
- severe loss of blood
- severe burns or scalds
- choking
- fitting or concussion
- drowning
- severe allergic reactions
Go to A&E when there is a critical or life threatening problem, such as:
- cuts which won't stop bleeding or may need stitches to heal properly
- burns which are large, or deep, and need dressings
- limb injuries which are painful or swollen and could be caused by a broken bone
Call 111 when:
- you need medical help fast but it's not a 999 emergency
- you think you need to go to A&E or need another NHS urgent care service
- you don't know who to call or you don't have a GP to call
- you need health information or reassurance about what to do next
First Aid
The British Red Cross have produced a series of short videos demonstrating first aid techniques (click on the logo). There is also an app available for iOS and Android.
The Village Defibrillator - a life saver
As we live in a fairly remote rural community it can take a relatively long time for an ambulance to reach us. The village therefore purchased its own defibrillator for use in the case of someone suffering cardiac arrest; it's in that yellow box on the side wall of the Village Hall.
Whatever the medical emergency call 999 for help; if the ambulance crew suspect cardiac arrest they will contact one of the village volunteers who have been trained to use the defibrillator. The volunteer will then fetch the defibrillator and use it on the patient to attempt to restart the heart while waiting for the ambulance to arrive. To view a video showing the use of a defibrillator, click on the photo above (it takes a while to load, be patient!)