Emergency care is for symptoms where delay may threaten life, organ function or safety. This guide cannot assess an individual and should not be used to postpone help. When in doubt about severe or rapidly changing symptoms, contact local emergency services or attend the nearest appropriate emergency department.
Breathing and chest symptoms
Severe breathing difficulty, blue lips, inability to speak normally, sudden chest pressure, collapse or coughing blood can indicate a serious heart, lung or vascular problem.
Do not drive yourself when collapse or a major cardiac event is possible. Follow emergency-service instructions while waiting.
- Severe breathlessness
- Chest pressure or tightness
- Sweating, nausea or faintness
- Blue or grey colour
- Coughing blood
- Sudden collapse
Possible stroke or neurological emergency
Sudden facial droop, arm or leg weakness, speech difficulty, new confusion, seizure or the worst sudden headache needs urgent assessment. Note the time the person was last known well because some treatments are time-dependent.
Do not give food, drink or unprescribed medicine to a person with impaired consciousness or swallowing.
- Face weakness
- Arm or leg weakness
- Speech change
- New seizure
- Sudden severe headache
- Loss of consciousness
Bleeding, injury and severe pain
Uncontrolled bleeding, major trauma, suspected fracture with poor circulation, severe burns, poisoning and rapidly worsening abdominal pain need emergency evaluation. Apply firm direct pressure to external bleeding when safe.
After a head injury, repeated vomiting, increasing drowsiness, confusion, seizure, weakness or fluid from the nose or ear is concerning.
- Uncontrolled bleeding
- Major fall or collision
- Severe burn
- Poisoning or overdose
- Head-injury warning signs
- Acute abdominal crisis
Pregnancy, children and severe allergy
Heavy pregnancy bleeding, seizure, severe headache with visual change, collapse, severe abdominal pain or marked breathlessness requires urgent maternity assessment. Children need urgent help for breathing difficulty, severe dehydration, seizure, a non-blanching rash or unusual unresponsiveness.
Facial or tongue swelling, wheeze, throat tightness or collapse after a possible allergen can be anaphylaxis. Use prescribed emergency medicine if available and call emergency services.
- Pregnancy bleeding or collapse
- Reduced fetal movement with concern
- Child difficult to wake
- Severe dehydration
- Airway swelling or wheeze
- Rapid deterioration
Mental-health crisis
Immediate help is needed when someone may act on suicidal thoughts, has recently attempted self-harm, is severely confused or agitated, or cannot maintain basic safety. Stay with the person when safe and reduce access to immediate means of harm.
Contact local emergency services or an appropriate crisis service. A routine website form is not monitored for emergencies.
- Suicidal intent or plan
- Recent attempt
- Immediate risk to others
- Severe confusion
- Dangerous withdrawal
- Inability to maintain safety
Medical information is general and does not replace an individual consultation.