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- Recognize a fractureSevere pain, swelling, deformity, bruising, unable to move or bear weight.
- Don't move — supportSupport the injured part in the position you find it, with your hands, a rolled-up coat or blanket. Don't straighten it. Don't move the person unless there is immediate danger.
- Call 112 whenBroken leg, hip or pelvis, an open fracture, a misaligned limb, or a pale or blue hand or foot.
- CoolingOnly for a sprain or bruise, not for an obvious fracture. Ice or cold water in a cloth, never directly on the skin.
- SprainCool for 10–20 minutes, repeat as needed in the first 24 hours and keep it raised. Can't walk 4 steps or the pain persists? See a doctor.
Checked in October 2026 against the guidelines of the Red Cross, the Dutch Resuscitation Council (2025), the European Resuscitation Council, the Dutch public health institute RIVM and the NHS. This does not replace a first-aid course. If a life is in danger: call 112 straight away.
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