If a casualty loses consciousness, the tongue may fall back into the throat and block the passage of air from the mouth and nose into the lungs. Ensuring the airway is open is vital to the casualty's survival.

• Place one hand on casualty's forehead and gently tilt back their head and lift the chin
• Keeping the airway open, check for breathing - look, listen and feel for breathing
• Look for chest movement, listen for sound and feel for breath on your cheek
• Do this for no more than ten seconds

If the casualty is breathing

• Bring the casualty's far arm across their chest
• Hold back of casualty's hand against opposite cheek
• With your other hand, pull up the far leg just above the knee, keeping the foot on the ground
• Keeping the casualty's hand pressed against their cheek, pull on the far leg and roll the casualty towards you and on to their side
• Adjust upper leg so both hip and knee are bent at right angles

If the casualty isn't breathing
Call 999 and give resuscitation until casualty starts breathing again or expert medical help arrives

Panic attack
A panic attack is distressing for the person experiencing it and difficult to respond to, but it isn't harmful.

What is it?
A panic attack is a sudden rush of overwhelming fear that often occurs without warning or any obvious reason.

Symptoms

• Hyperventilation and fast breathing result in lack of carbon dioxide in blood
• Palpitations
• Nervous behaviour
• Difficulty swallowing or breathing
• Trembling

First aid aims

• Calm the casualty
• Encourage them to regain control and seek medical advice

Actions

• Take casualty to a quiet place
• Be reassuring but firm
• Remain with casualty until panic attack is over
• Advise casualty to see their GP