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Falls

The risk is higher if you’re over 65, live with a long-term condition, or have problems with balance or mobility. Many injuries and worries can be avoided if you know what to do.

Falls is currently the number one reason people in Wales call for an ambulance, which is why the Trust has established a dedicated Falls Desk in its 999-control room where expert clinicians will remotely assess your needs and provide tailored advice based on that assessment designed to get help quickly to people who have fallen. This may include guidance to help reduce risk while you remain on the floor, such as staying hydrated and adjusting your position to relieve pressure. In some cases, we may advise you to attempt getting up from the floor with assistance from carers, family, or friends - if it is appropriate following our assessment.

Many injuries and worries can be avoided if you know what to do.

Do

  • Carry a mobile phone or wear a pendant alarm
  • Make sure someone trusted has a key or you have a key safe outside-make sure emergency services are aware of the code
  • Practise getting up from the floor when you are feeling well
  • Stay active by moving a little everyday
  • Wear well-fitted shoes with good grip. Avoid loose slippers and going barefoot.
  • Use non-slip mats in the bathroom
  • Have your eye and hearing regularly checked
  • Speak to your GP or pharmacist if you feel dizzy or unsteady as some medicines can affect balance

Don’t

  • Struggle with jobs that feel risky e.g. reaching high shelves – always ask for help
  • Leave a trailing wire, clutter or loose rugs
  • Drink too much alcohol
  • Rush when you stand up
  • If you feel able to get up safely:
  • Take your time
  • Roll onto your side and push onto your hands and knees
  • Crawl to something sturdy e.g. heavy chair, sofa, step or even the bath
  • Place one foot flat on the floor, push on the sturdy item and slowly stand up
  • Once up, find a place to sit down and rest

If you cannot get up

  • Reach for a phone, lifeline alarm or pendant and call for help. If you can’t shout for help or bang on floor or wall to attract a neighbour or passer by.
  • Keep warm by pulling something over to cover you
  • Move as much as you can. Try to wiggle your arms and legs, or gently roll from side to side.
  • Hydrate where possible

When to call 999

  • Cannot get up, even with help
  • Are confused, drowsy, or vomiting
  • Has injured their head, neck, back or hip or has severe bleeding

 

Mental health

A mental health crisis could look like:

  • Severe anxiety or panic
  • Thoughts of suicide or self‑harm
  • Extreme distress or emotional overwhelm
  • Confusion or sudden changes in behaviour

Mental health emergencies can also include those living with  conditions such as dementia, a learning disability, neurodiversity, drug or alcohol use, or perinatal, child and adolescent, or older adult mental health.

Call 999 if:

  • Someone’s life is in immediate danger
  • There is a serious risk of suicide or self‑harm
  • A person is extremely distressed, confused, or behaving in a way that puts themselves or others at risk

If it’s not an emergency but you need urgent mental health support, call NHS 111 Wales and press option 2.

This service:

  • Is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
  • Supports people of all ages, including children and young people
  • Connects you directly with a mental health professional in your area
  • Is free to call, even if you have no phone credit

If you’re struggling, feeling unsafe, or worried about someone else, help is available. Calls are welcomed in Welsh.

When you call 999 or 111, you will be connected to a call handlers who is trained to recognise when mental health may be a key factor and will ask appropriate questions to understand:

  • How the person is feeling and behaving
  • Whether there is immediate risk to life or safety
  • Whether the person is alone or has support around them

This helps us decide the most appropriate response, which may include specialist mental health advice, a clinician call back, or an emergency response if there is immediate danger.

Not all mental health emergencies require an ambulance or a trip to the Emergency Department. Where it is safe and appropriate, we aim to provide the right care, in the right place, at the right time.

This helps decide the most appropriate response, which may include:

  • A clinical call‑back from a paramedic, nurse, or mental health clinician
  • Referral to urgent mental health services in the community
  • Dispatch of an ambulance or specialist resource if there is immediate risk

 

Breathing problems & Chest pain

Shortness of breath might not be anything to worry about, but sometimes it can be serious, and you'll need to get medical help. Shortness of breath has lots of different causes. Common causes include:

  • asthma
  • a chest infection
  • being overweight
  • smoking
  • a panic attack

But sometimes shortness of breath could be a sign of something more serious. Call 999 or go to A&E immediately if:

  • you have severe difficulty breathing – you’re gasping, choking or not able to get words out
  • your chest feels tight or heavy
  • you have pain that spreads to your arms, back, neck and jaw
  • your lips or skin are turning very pale, blue or grey – on brown or black skin, this may be easier to see on the palms of the hands
  • you feel suddenly confused

Most chest pain is not a sign of anything serious but get medical advice just in case. There are two heart conditions that need immediate emergency care; a heart attack and a cardiac arrest. 

A heart attack happens when an artery becomes obstructed, restricting the flow of blood to the heart. The most common sign of a heart attack is chest pain, though there are other symptoms including, a feeling of pressure, burning in the chest, central chest pain which may radiate into the back, jaw and arms, sweating and breathlessness.

  • Call 999 immediately
  • Sit the patient down
  • Keep them at rest
  • Keep them calm

Left untreated it can lead to a cardiac arrest. A cardiac arrest occurs when the heart stops pumping blood around the body, and can be a result of heart attack, choking or trauma. When someone has a cardiac arrest, they collapse and become unresponsive. They either stop breathing entirely, or they may take gasping or infrequent breaths for a few minutes, which can be misinterpreted as snoring.

If you see someone having a cardiac arrest, phone 999 immediately and start CPR (our call handlers can guide you through the process and will direct you to the closest public access defibrillator).

Anyone can help save a life - even as a passer‑by on the street. When someone goes into cardiac arrest, it’s crucial they receive immediate assistance, even if you haven’t had formal training. Every moment without emergency life support makes it harder to restart the heart. With each passing minute, the person’s chance of survival drops significantly, and without emergency life support, they will not survive.

Your two hands could help save a life:

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