Knowing what to do in an emergency can save a friend’s life. Dial 999 if you’re in any doubt about their condition. Stay calm, tell them what symptoms your friend is suffering from and, if you know, what drugs they’ve taken.
Where Else To get Help
If you're worried, anxious, need information or advice call the National Drugs Helpline on 0800 77 66 00 any time of the day or night. The Helpline is run by trained counsellors available to anyone with a question on drugs or drug-related issues. Calls are free and confidential.
Knowing what to do in an emergency can save a friend's life. Dial 999 if you're in any doubt about their condition. Stay calm, tell them what symptoms your friend is suffering from and, if you know, what drugs they've taken.
What To Do If They Are...
Tense & Panicky
- Try to calm them down.
- Tell them where they are, what's happening, and reassure them that everything's going to be OK.
- Keep them away from things that might make them more panicky, like loud noises and bright lights.
- If they're breathing too quickly or gasping for breath, try to get them to copy you as you breathe slowly and regularly.
- Get medical help.
Drowsy but conscious (awake)
- Try to keep them awake and alert.
- Give them sips of lukewarm water if they want a drink (not black coffee)
- Call an ambulance.
Dehydrated (looking very red and hot, but not sweating)
- Move them to a cool place and make sure they've got plenty to drink.
- Splash them with cold water to cool them down
- Call an ambulance.
Unconscious (not awake)
- Call an ambulance immediately.
- Lay them face upwards on the floor and make sure their airways are clear - by tilting the head back and lifting their chin.
- If their heart has stopped and they're not breathing, do mouth-to-mouth resuscitation:
- Tilt the head back and lift the chin.
- Close the nostrils with your thumb and finger.
- Take a deep breath and place your mouth over their open mouth.
- Blow into their mouth until their chest expands, making sure there is no leakage of air around the mouth.
- Repeat this once.
- Feel with your fingers for a pulse. If there is no sign of a pulse, perform cardiac massage:
- Find the notch at the bottom of the breastbone.
- Measure 2 finger widths above this.
- Place both hands on the breastbone and press down firmly, steadily and smoothly 15 times, at a rate of about 80 times per minute.
- Keep repeating mouth-to-mouth and cardiac massage until you get a pulse and breathing.
- When they're breathing, put them in the recovery position and loosen any tight clothing around their neck and chest.
- Keep them warm with coats or a blanket but take care not to make them too warm.
- When the ambulance arrives tell the crew what happened and what you've done.
Where Else To Get Help
For free confidential drugs information and advice call Know the Score on 0800 587 587 9. Advisers will be there to talk to you 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Calls from landlines are free and won't show up on the phone bill. Calls from a mobile vary in cost depending on which network you're on and might show up on the bill.