The Recognising an Emergency Checklist: What to Do and What to Skip
Recognising an Emergency: what is worth doing, what is worth avoiding, and when to stop and see a doctor.
The symptoms that mean calling 999 rather than waiting. Delay is the main determinant of outcome in the conditions where minutes matter, and most delay is deciding whether to call.
Key takeaways
- Always 999: chest pain, stroke signs, severe breathlessness, heavy bleeding, unconsciousness
- FAST: Face, Arms, Speech, Time to call 999
- Most useful single change: Call 999 if you think it might be one of these; that is the right threshold.
- Commonest mistake: Driving yourself or someone else with suspected heart attack or stroke.
- See a doctor if any of the signs under "When to speak to a doctor" below apply to you.
Do
- Call 999 if you think it might be one of these; that is the right threshold
- Put the phone on speaker so you can follow instructions
- Unlock the door and put pets away if you can
Do not
- Driving yourself or someone else with suspected heart attack or stroke
- Waiting to see whether symptoms settle
The numbers behind the list
The list is built from the numbers below, which come from the bodies cited at the end.
| Measure | Figure |
|---|---|
| Always 999 | chest pain, stroke signs, severe breathlessness, heavy bleeding, unconsciousness |
| FAST | Face, Arms, Speech, Time to call 999 |
| Non-fading rash | call 999; do not wait to see if it changes |
| NHS 111 | for urgent but not life-threatening problems, 24 hours |
If you change one thing
Call 999 if you think it might be one of these; that is the right threshold. That is the opening item above. Doing only that is still doing something.
Where to go next
- Recognising an Emergency for Beginners: Where to Start
- Your Questions About Recognising an Emergency, Answered
- Recognising an Emergency — the reference entry
- CPR and Defibrillation: What the Evidence Actually Says
- Choking: What the Evidence Actually Says
When to speak to a doctor
Call 999 for chest pain or tightness lasting more than a few minutes, sudden weakness or numbness on one side, facial drooping, difficulty speaking, severe breathlessness, heavy bleeding, seizures that do not stop, unconsciousness, a rash that does not fade under pressure, or signs of anaphylaxis.
Where this comes from
- NHS — When to call 999
- Resuscitation Council UK — emergency guidance
How this page was put together
Every figure, recommendation and warning above is taken from the guidance named in Where this comes from. Nothing on this page is inferred, summarised or generalised beyond what those bodies publish: where they give a number, it is their number, and where they are silent, so are we. Pages are rebuilt whenever the underlying record changes. Sign-off by a named clinician, where it has happened, is shown at the top of the page along with the date.
Medical disclaimer
This article is general information, not medical advice. It cannot account for your own history, medication or circumstances. Always speak to a GP, pharmacist or another qualified health professional before making changes that affect your treatment, and never delay seeking medical advice because of something you have read here. In an emergency, call 999.
Spotted something wrong? Report an error on this page. We correct on the page and say what changed.
