Essential guide to helping the wounded

If the victim is unresponsive and not breathing, lie them on their back and make sure their airway is open by tilting back the head and pushing up the chin.

Start performing CPR (see panel far right). If there is someone else available to help, ask them to staunch blood flow from any wounds by applying pressure.

‘Don’t remove their clothing, which could put them at risk of hypothermia. Instead, cut or tear their clothes so you can see the wounds, then apply pressure using your hands, a scarf or T-shirt,’ says Emma Hammett.

If the victim is unresponsive but breathing, first attempt to staunch the blood as above. Once blood flow lessens, roll them gently into the recovery position (on their side, with the top knee bent, and with one hand cradling the face — see illustration above). ‘Make sure that they are lying on the injured side. This will prevent fluid entering the uppermost lung,’ explains Emma Hammett.

Meanwhile, she says, ‘If the victim is still standing, get them to sit or lie down. They could collapse at any point, injuring themselves further.’

Keep the victim warm and calm to reduce shock. Do not give them anything to eat or drink, as they will almost certainly need emergency surgery. It might be tempting to tie a tight ligature around a limb. However, there is evidence that wrongly using a makeshift tourniquet can make blood loss worse.

‘It should only be used in a small number of cases where bleeding is catastrophic, and if direct pressure is not working,’ says Emma.

Severe bleeding may not be immediately obvious if it is internal, warns Alan Weir, of St John Ambulance. ‘Be aware that a small puncture wound might be the only sign that an organ or major artery has been hit and the patient is bleeding to death.’