Emergency card numbers and first aid

Call 108 or 112 and put the phone on speaker. If there are two of you, one calls while the other starts.

1. Tap the shoulders and shout. If there is no answer and no normal breathing (gasping is not breathing), start at once.
2. Lay them on their back on a firm floor. Put the heel of one hand on the centre of the chest, the other hand on top.
3. Arms straight, push hard and fast: about 5 cm deep, 100 to 120 times a minute (to the beat of "Stayin' Alive"). Let the chest come back up each time.
4. Do not stop until help arrives, they start breathing, or an AED (shock machine) is ready. If you are trained, give 2 breaths after every 30 pushes.

• ✕ Do not waste time checking the pulse.
• ✕ Do not give water or shake the person.

If they can cough or speak, let them keep coughing. Act only if they cannot breathe, speak or cough.

1. Adult or child over 1: lean them forward and give up to 5 firm blows between the shoulder blades with the heel of your hand.
2. Then up to 5 abdominal thrusts: stand behind, fist just above the navel, pull sharply inwards and upwards. Repeat back blows and thrusts.
3. Baby under 1: face down along your forearm, head low, 5 back blows; then face up, 5 chest pushes with two fingers on the breastbone.
4. If they become unresponsive, call 112 and start CPR.

• ✕ Do not put your finger blindly into the mouth.
• ✕ No abdominal thrusts on babies under 1.

Go to a hospital with anti-snake venom at once; call 108. Most bites are treatable if you reach in time.

1. Reassure: keep the person calm and still. Many bites are from non-venomous snakes.
2. Immobilise the bitten limb loosely, like a fracture, with a splint or cloth. Remove rings, bangles and tight clothes.
3. Get to hospital without delay, lying down if possible. Tell the doctor the time of the bite and any symptoms (drooping eyelids, bleeding, breathing trouble).

• ✕ No tight tourniquet, no cutting, no sucking, no ice.
• ✕ Do not go to a faith healer or wait for "jhaad-phoonk": it wastes life-saving time.
• ✕ Do not try to catch or kill the snake.

Hot skin, confusion, fainting or fits in the heat is an emergency: call 108 and start cooling at once.

1. Move them to shade or a cool room. Loosen and remove extra clothing.
2. Cool fast: wet the skin with water and fan, or put cold wet cloths or ice packs on the neck, armpits and groin.
3. Only if fully awake, give sips of water or ORS.

• ✕ Nothing by mouth if they are drowsy or confused.
• ✕ Do not leave them alone.

Stop the burning: put out flames ("stop, drop, roll"), switch off electricity before touching anyone.

1. Cool the burn under cool running tap water for about 20 minutes.
2. Remove rings, watches and clothing near the burn unless stuck to it.
3. Cover loosely with clean cling film or a clean, non-fluffy cloth. Keep the rest of the body warm.
4. See a doctor for burns larger than the person’s palm, on the face, hands, feet or private parts, electrical or chemical burns, and burns in children or the elderly.

• ✕ No ice, butter, oil, toothpaste, ink or home pastes.
• ✕ Do not burst blisters or pull off stuck clothing.

Rabies is fatal but fully preventable. Wash the wound now and see a doctor today.

1. Wash the wound with soap and plenty of running water for at least 15 minutes.
2. Apply an antiseptic such as povidone-iodine if available. Leave the wound open.
3. Go to a government hospital or PHC the same day for the anti-rabies vaccine (free in government hospitals), even for a scratch that breaks the skin.

• ✕ No chilli, turmeric, lime, oil or mud on the wound.
• ✕ Do not wait to "watch the dog" before starting the vaccine.