St John Ambulance, the nation’s leading first aid charity, has issued some simple but life saving first aid tips for the festive period.

Cut yourself carving the turkey? To treat a severe bleed:

• Wash your own hands, cover any cuts on your own hands and put on disposable gloves

• Apply direct pressure over the wound with your fingers using a sterile dressing or clean, non-fluffy pad. If you do not have a dressing, ask the casualty to apply direct pressure himself

• If there is an object in the wound, apply pressure on either side of the object

• Secure the dressing with a bandage that is firm enough to maintain pressure, but not so tight that it impairs circulation

• If shock develops, help the casualty to lie down. Raise and support his legs so that they are above the level of his heart

• Call 999/112 for emergency help.

What to do if someone chokes on their food:

• Ask the casualty ‘Are you choking?’ If the casualty is breathing encourage them to cough to try to remove the obstruction themselves.

• If they can’t speak, cough or breathe, bend them forward. Give up to five sharp blows between the shoulder blades with the heel of your hand. Check their mouth, but do not do a finger sweep of the mouth.

• If choking persists, stand behind the casualty. Put both arms around them and put one fist between the navel and the bottom of the breastbone. Grasp your fist with your other hand, and pull sharply inwards and upwards up to five times. Recheck the casualty’s mouth.

• If the obstruction has not cleared, call 999/112 for emergency help. Continue the sequence until help arrives or the obstruction is cleared, or they lose consciousness. If they lose consciousness, open the airway and check breathing. Be prepared to give CPR.

For more information and more free first aid advice go to www.sja.org.uk

Based on information supplied by Kate Rutsch.