After an accident, injuries may be visible immediately, but symptoms sometimes develop later. First check consciousness, breathing and severe bleeding, and have warning signs assessed promptly.
- Pain, swelling, bruises, grazes, cuts or a visible deformity.
- Headache, dizziness, nausea, memory loss, drowsiness or confusion after a blow to the head.
- First make sure the area is safe and prevent a second accident involving yourself, the injured person or bystanders.
- Apply firm, continuous pressure to a bleeding wound with clean material. Do not remove an embedded object yourself.
- Get in touch the same day for a deep, gaping, dirty or bite wound, a wound over a joint or a possible object left in a wound.
- For urgent GP care outside office hours, call HAP 9252. Call Ambulance 912 only for an immediate threat to life.
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General information, not personal medical advice
This article has been carefully prepared but may contain errors or become outdated as medical knowledge changes. It does not replace diagnosis, examination or treatment by your own GP. Always discuss personal questions and starting, stopping or changing medicines or treatments with your own GP.
For a life-threatening situation, call Ambulance 912. For urgent care outside office hours, call HAP 9252.
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