What Should I Do if I Find Someone Unconscious?

How to Help Someone Who is Unconscious

Finding someone unconscious can be frightening. Whether it's a family member at home, a colleague at work or a stranger in the street, it's natural to feel worried and unsure about what to do.

The good news is that by following a few simple steps, you can keep yourself safe, get professional help quickly and give the casualty the best possible chance of recovery.

2026 Update to First Aid Guidance

In 2026, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and Resuscitation Council UK (RCUK) introduced updated guidance for managing an unconscious casualty and at Help First Aid Training, our instructors teach these latest recommendations on all of our first aid courses.

Previously explained by the acronym, DRABC, the process to help an unconscious casualty has now changed;

• Danger

• Response

• Catastrophic Bleeding

• Airway

• Breathing

• Circulation

• Disability

• Exposure

These changes can seem a little daunting, so, with this in mind, we've created a straightforward guide to explain what you need to do.

First things first

Always remember, if you find someone unconscious, try to stay calm.

Your main priorities are to keep yourself safe, get help quickly, check whether the casualty is breathing, and follow the advice given by the emergency call handler.

1. Check for Danger

Before you go near the casualty, look around for anything that could harm you, them or other people. Watch for traffic, electricity, water, fire, fumes, falling objects or violence. If it is not safe, do not approach. Call 999 immediately.

2. Check for a Response

Speak clearly and ask, “Can you hear me?” If there’s no response, gently tap or shake their shoulders. If they do not open their eyes, speak, move or make a sound, treat them as unconscious.

3. Call 999 & check for Catastrophic Bleeding

This is the biggest change to the new guidance.

As soon as you know that the casualty is unconscious and unresponsive, call 999 straight away, or ask someone else to call. Put the phone on speaker if you can so you can keep your hands free and follow the emergency call handler’s instructions.

Catastrophic bleeding is unmistakable in appearance. If you find catastrophic bleeding and it is safe to help, apply firm direct pressure and follow the advice given by the 999 call handler.

4. Open the Airway

Look inside the mouth. If you can see obvious loose material that may block the airway, allow it to drain naturally by carefully turning the casualty onto their side.

Avoid putting your fingers into the casualty's mouth unless instructed by the emergency call handler.

Once the airway is clear tilt the casualty's head back gently and lift the chin.

5. Check Breathing

Keep the airway open and check for normal breathing for no more than 10 seconds. Look for the chest rising and falling, listen for breathing, and feel for breath on your cheek.

If they are not breathing normally

Start CPR immediately. If a defibrillator (AED) is available, ask someone to bring it and follow its spoken instructions. Keep going until the emergency services take over, the casualty starts breathing normally, or you are told to stop.

If they are breathing normally

If they are unconscious but breathing normally, place them in the recovery position if it is safe to do so. If you suspect a serious injury, avoid unnecessary movement unless you need to move them to keep the airway clear.

6. Circulation

Once normal breathing is confirmed, check for signs that circulation may be affected; signs could be heavy bleeding, cold, pale or clammy skin, or shock.

If you notice any of these signs, tell the 999 call handler. This information can help the emergency services understand what may have caused the casualty to become unconscious.

7. Disability

A quick check can help you spot signs that something serious may have happened.

Look for things such as confusion or unusual behaviour, slurred speech, weakness or numbness on one side of the body, signs of a seizure, head injury, or any changes in their level of responsiveness.

Again, if you notice any of these signs, tell the 999 call handler. This information can help the emergency services understand what may have caused the casualty to become unconscious.

8. Exposure

Stay with the casualty until help arrives. Keep checking their breathing and level of response. Keep them warm, protect their dignity and tell the emergency services about any changes.

Why were these changes introduced?

The updated guidance aims to get professional help on the way sooner.

By calling 999 immediately after confirming the casualty is unresponsive, the emergency services are alerted much quicker, saving valuable time.

Calling 999 earlier enables the emergency call handler to then support you whilst you wait for the emergency services to arrive.

The additional checks for an unconscious casualty who is breathing normally help provide valuable information for the emergency services and can help medical professionals assess the situation more quickly, speeding up the decision as to the most appropriate treatment for the casualty.

Learn First Aid with Confidence

Reading about first aid is a great starting point, but nothing compares to practising these skills with experienced instructors.

At Help First Aid Training, we teach the latest H.S.E. and Resuscitation Council UK guidance using realistic, hands-on scenarios that help build confidence as well as knowledge.

Whether you're attending an Emergency First Aid at Work, First Aid at Work, Paediatric First Aid or a Re-qualification First Aid at Work course, you'll leave knowing exactly what to do if someone becomes unconscious.

Contact our friendly team today to find the right course for you or your organisation.

We run regular open courses at the Shildon Business Centre in County Durham, and we can also deliver onsite training at your location.

We cover Bishop Auckland to Boldon, Consett to Chester le Street, Darlington to Durham and all locations across North East England.

Email: info@helpfirstaidtraining.co.uk

Call us: 01388 417303

Website: www.helpfirstaidtraining.co.uk