Practice calling 999 for first aid scenarios

Planning this session

• Print the 'Emergency scenario cards' and cut them out.

Choose which help

1. Split into two groups. One group are first aiders, the other group are injured people. If you don’t have an even number, you should have one pair of first aiders, who will work together to treat an injured person.
2. Everyone should walk around the room. The person leading the game should make a signal, and the injured people should act like they’re injured or ill. People could hold the part of their body they’re pretending is hurt, point to the pain, or act out what’s happening. 
3. Each first aider should go to an injured person. They should find out what’s wrong. 
4. Each pair should talk about why it’s important to get help in an emergency. They should then think about calling out for help in case anyone is nearby, and decide what kind of medical help the injured person needs.
5. Everyone should come back together, and some pairs should explain what was wrong and what help they though the person needed. 
6. Explain that it’s important to get help in an emergency – first by shouting out, in case anyone is nearby. If anyone is seriously ill or injured (or their life is at risk), you should call 999.
7. Ask if anyone knows what a medical emergency might be.
8. Tell people that medical emergencies can include: loss of consciousness, a confused state, fits that aren’t stopping, chest pain, breathing difficulties, severe bleeding that can’t be stopped, severe allergic reactions, and severe burns or scalds.
9. Explain that if it’s not a life-threatening emergency, and the person you’re with doesn’t need immediate medical attention, there are other options instead of calling 999. You can call 111, or go to your local NHS walk-in centre, urgent care centre, or local minor injuries unit. 

Practice 999

1. Everyone should get back into their pairs. One person should be the 999 caller, and the other person should be the call handler (or 999 operator). 
2. The 999 caller should choose an imaginary emergency. They could pretend someone’s fallen and broken their arm, someone’s hit their head and isn’t moving, someone’s been hit by a car, or that they’ve cut themselves with a knife. 
3. The call handler should ask the caller their name, the address of the emergency, and the caller’s telephone number. They should ask what’s happened, and what condition the patient is in (for example, are they breathing?).
4. The 999 caller should answer all of the call handler’s questions, and describe what they can see. They should include details of any hazards like gas, damage to power lines, or bad weather conditions.

Test yourself with scenarios

1. Each pair should join with another pair, making a group of four.
2. Give each group a scenario card and the relevant first aid facts. 
3. Each group should think about the scenario, and what they’d do. 
4. They create a short roleplay, to show the scenario, and what they’d do. They should make sure they include the key questions on their scenario card.
5. Come back together and take it in turns to watch the groups’ roleplays.