Accidents¶
Emergency numbers differ by country. This page uses 911, the number for the United States and Canada. Many other countries use 112, 999, or another number. Find the number for your country.
Accidents happen fast, and the first minutes matter most. These guides tell you what to do right away, in plain steps you can follow when you are shaken and short on time.
If this is happening right now¶
- Get yourself and anyone with you to safety first.
- Call your local emergency number (911 in the United States and Canada, 112 across the European Union, 999 in the United Kingdom).
- Open the guide below that matches what is happening and follow the numbered steps.
Not sure of your number? See emergency numbers.
Guides in this section¶
What to do after a car crash¶
Stay safe, turn on your hazard lights, check for injuries, and call for help. The guide also covers exchanging details, taking photos, and why you should never leave the scene.
What to do in a house fire¶
Get out and stay out. This guide covers crawling low under smoke, feeling doors, choosing a meeting place, and what to do if you are trapped.
Carbon monoxide: symptoms and what to do¶
Carbon monoxide has no smell and no color. Learn the symptoms, what to do when an alarm sounds, and how to prevent it.
Kitchen fires¶
How to put out a grease fire or oven fire safely, when to use a fire extinguisher, and what never to pour on burning oil.
Car in water¶
How to escape a sinking vehicle step by step: seatbelts off, windows open, and getting out fast before the car submersion complete.
Car breakdown on a highway¶
How to pull over safely, stay safe inside or behind guardrails, signal for assistance, and handle roadside emergencies.
Changing a flat tire and checking tire pressure¶
Step by step flat tire replacement: safe roadside positioning, jack placement, lug nut torque patterns, donut spare safety, and inflating tires.
Electric vehicle dead battery and emergency charging¶
What to do when an EV runs out of charge: turtle mode response, roadside emergency charging, flatbed towing rules, and 12V jump-starting.
Electric, hybrid, and hydrogen vehicle safety in crashes and fires¶
Safety protocols for high-voltage battery fires, submerged electric vehicles, and hydrogen fuel cell vehicle emergencies.
Falling through ice¶
Self-rescue techniques for getting out of frozen water, kick-and-pull methods, and how to rescue someone else safely without falling in.
Chemical spills and hazmat incidents¶
What to do if a hazardous chemical spill or transport accident occurs near you, sheltering in place, and decontamination basics.
Lost outdoors¶
What to do if you are lost while hiking or in the wilderness: STOP, stay calm, build shelter, signal for help, and stay put.
Boating accidents¶
What to do during a boating emergency: person overboard rescue steps, capsized vessel rules, life jackets, and emergency distress signals.
Bicycle and motorcycle crashes¶
What to do after a bicycle or motorcycle crash: securing the scene, spinal precautions, helmet removal rules, and emergency medical aid.
Elevator emergencies¶
How to stay safe if trapped in an elevator: using the call button, staying inside, emergency dispatch, and avoiding dangerous exit attempts.
Child or pet trapped in a hot car¶
What to do if a child or pet is locked in a hot vehicle: rapid rescue steps, breaking a car window safely, and emergency cooling.
Workplace injuries¶
How to respond to workplace accidents: machinery entanglement, industrial chemical contact, eye injuries, and reporting requirements.
Snow shoveling and heavy exertion in extreme cold¶
Preventing heart attacks, back injuries, and hypothermia during snow clearing, cardiac warning signs, and emergency action steps.
Prevent the next one¶
Most of the advice in this section works better if you decide it ahead of time. Pick a meeting place outside your home, test your alarms, and keep a basic kit in your car. Our family emergency plan and emergency kit guides help you do that.
If someone is hurt, the first aid guides cover bleeding, choking, CPR, and burns.