Until the Ambulance Arrives: What to Do in an Emergency

In an accident or sudden illness, the minutes passing after calling 112 or Nova Ambulans are critical. Simple and correct steps in these "golden minutes" increase the chance of survival [1]Source: American Heart Association (AHA) — American Heart Association[3]Source: European Resuscitation Council (ERC) — European Resuscitation Council. The World Health Organization (WHO) reports that "an estimated 19.8 million people died from CVDs in 2022, representing approximately 32% of all global deaths" [6]Source: Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) — Fact sheet — World Health Organization — most of those acute events are time-sensitive. Here is what you need to do before the ambulance:

First Steps While Waiting for Ambulance

Ensure Safety First

Ensuring the safety of both yourself and the patient should be your first priority.

• Scene Safety: If it is a traffic accident, place warning signs (reflector etc.) to prevent other accidents. If there is a danger like fire or gas leak, carefully move the patient to a safe area.
• Personal Protection: Protect yourself from blood or other body fluids by wearing disposable gloves if possible.

Assess the Patient's Condition (ABC)

• A (Airway): If the patient is unconscious, check if the airway is open. Clean if there is a foreign object in their mouth. If there is no suspicion of trauma or a neck/spine injury, open the airway with the head-tilt, chin-lift manoeuvre (gently tilt the head back and lift the chin). If a fall, traffic accident, or neck/spine injury is suspected, do not tilt the head; keep the head and neck still and try to open the airway with the jaw-thrust manoeuvre instead [2]Source: AHA CPR & First Aid Training — American Heart Association[3]Source: European Resuscitation Council (ERC) — European Resuscitation Council.
• B (Breathing): Check if the patient is breathing with the "Look-Listen-Feel" method for 10 seconds [3]Source: European Resuscitation Council (ERC) — European Resuscitation Council. Look for chest movement, listen for breath sounds, and try to feel their breath on your cheek. If there is no breathing, start basic life support. If you are not trained, perform hands-only chest compressions; if you are trained, continue cycles of 30 chest compressions and 2 rescue breaths. In either case, push hard and fast in the centre of the chest at 100–120 compressions per minute, depressing the chest 5–6 cm [1]Source: American Heart Association (AHA) — American Heart Association[2]Source: AHA CPR & First Aid Training — American Heart Association.
• C (Circulation): Check for serious bleeding. If there is active bleeding, press directly and firmly on the wound with a clean cloth or piece of clothing [2]Source: AHA CPR & First Aid Training — American Heart Association. Try to keep the bleeding area above heart level.

Do Not Move the Patient

If there is a suspicion of a fall, traffic accident, or trauma, absolutely do not move the patient [3]Source: European Resuscitation Council (ERC) — European Resuscitation Council. Especially if there is a risk of head, neck, and spine injuries, keeping the patient stable is vital. The only exception is if there is a vital danger where the patient is located (fire, explosion risk, etc.).

Inform and Calm Down

If the patient is conscious, help them stay calm by talking to them. Say who you are, state that help is on the way, and try to keep their consciousness open by asking simple questions.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is responsible if the ambulance arrives late?

As long as you make the call to the right address, with clear information, and on time, you have done your part. Although you cannot control the time, factors like address clarity and scene safety are in your hands and can speed up the intervention.

Should I intervene without knowing basic life support (Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation, CPR)?

The American Heart Association reports that "more than 417,000 cardiac arrest deaths occur each year in the U.S." and notes that "cardiac arrest may be treated if CPR is performed and a defibrillator shocks the heart and restores a normal heart rhythm within a few minutes" [5]Source: What is Cardiac Arrest? — American Heart Association. If the person is unresponsive and not breathing, hands-only chest compressions in the centre of the chest at 100–120/min can save a life — the 112 operator will guide you step by step. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) confirms that "the more time that passes without treatment to restore blood flow, the greater the damage to the heart muscle" [7]Source: About Heart Attack Symptoms, Risk, and Recovery — Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), so untrained intervention is far better than waiting passively.

Information: If you called Nova Ambulans and have a private hospital preference, our team will check the hospital capacity status and direct you to the most suitable private hospital or the nearest public hospital.

How can I manage the crowd until the ambulance arrives?

You can ask a specific person for help to pull the crowd back, ensure curious people do not take images, and keep the road open. Clear and calm instructions facilitate the health team's job and protect the patient's privacy.