Chest pain, trouble breathing, sudden weakness on one side, a fit or heavy bleeding needs help now, not an appointment.

112Any emergency108Ambulance102Pregnancy and newborn
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Brain, fits and fainting

Unresponsive but breathing

Also called unconscious, behoshi, not waking, passed out, recovery position

Call 112 or 108 first, then start. Put the phone on speaker so the operator can talk you through every step while your hands stay free.

What you are dealing with

Someone who cannot be woken but is breathing normally must be turned on their side, so the tongue and any vomit cannot block the airway.

Do this, in this order

  1. Tap their shoulders and shout. If there is no response, shout for help.
  2. Tilt the head back and lift the chin, and check for normal breathing for up to ten seconds.
  3. If they are breathing, kneel beside them and place the arm nearest you out at a right angle.
  4. Bring the far arm across the chest and hold the back of that hand against their cheek.
  5. Pull up the far knee and roll them towards you onto their side, then tilt the head back to keep the airway open.
  6. Call 112 or 108, and keep checking that they are still breathing until help arrives.

Never do this

  • Do not leave them lying flat on their back.
  • Do not put a pillow under the head, which can bend the neck forward and close the airway.
  • Do not give anything by mouth.
  • Do not move them onto their side if you suspect a neck or spine injury, unless they are vomiting or you cannot keep the airway open.

Call an ambulance if

  • Always call. Anyone who cannot be woken needs to be seen, whatever the reason turns out to be.
Call 112 nowCall 108 ambulance

After the emergency

Get it looked at properly

First aid buys time, it does not finish the job. Most of these situations need a doctor to check what happened, prevent infection, and decide whether anything more is needed.

Consult a doctorCheck a symptom instead

Get care for this

Doctors and care for unresponsive but breathing

Verified Teleprac doctors you can see online or in a clinic, lab tests with home sample collection, and genuine medicines delivered to your door.

See all first aid topics

Important. This page is general first aid education and cannot replace a hands on first aid course or professional emergency care. Techniques taught by the Indian Red Cross, St John Ambulance and similar bodies are worth a single day of your life. In an emergency, call 112 or 108 first and follow what the operator tells you, because they can see your location and know what is on the way.

Call 112 Ambulance 108

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Emergency numbers in India

Save these in your phone now, not when you need them. Tap any number to call it.

112Any emergencyOne number for police, fire and ambulance across India108AmbulanceFree emergency ambulance in most states and union territories102Pregnancy and newbornAmbulance for mothers and babies in most states14416Mental health supportTele MANAS, free counselling every hour of the day, many languages1800 116 117Poisoning or overdoseNational Poisons Information Centre, AIIMS New Delhi1098Child in distressChildline India, free and confidential

Where to read more

Public health sources written for patients rather than for doctors, and kept up to date.

Ministry of Health and Family WelfareOfficial Indian health programmes, advisories and public guidanceWorld Health Organization health topicsGlobal fact sheets written for the public, on hundreds of topicsNHS health A to ZPlain language pages on symptoms, conditions, tests and treatmentsMedlinePlusPatient information from the United States National Library of MedicineTele MANASIndia's national mental health support service, free and available all day

Important: Everything in Teleprac patient resources is general health education. It does not give you a diagnosis and it cannot replace examination by a qualified doctor, because it does not know your age, your reports, your pregnancy or the other medicines you take. Please do not start, stop or change any medicine on your own. Teleprac Healthcare is not liable for decisions made on the basis of this information. In an emergency, call your local emergency number or go to the nearest hospital immediately.