NkwaSafe
Your Life Guide
Nkwa Guides
Bleeding Control
Stop bleeding with direct pressure
Burns Treatment
Cool, cover, and protect burns
Choking Response
Clear airway with back blows
CPR Guide
Chest compressions & rescue breaths
Road Accident
Scene safety and victim care
Stroke (FAST)
Recognize signs quickly
Ankle Sprain
PEACE & LOVE protocol for fast recovery
Broken Bone / Fracture
Immobilize, support, and seek help fast
Emergency Directory
All Ghana emergency numbers
Coming Soon
Video tutorials and interactive lessons will be available here.
Quick Tips
Stay Calm
In an emergency, take a deep breath. A calm responder helps victims feel safer.
Call 112 First
For serious emergencies, always call for professional help before starting first aid.
Safety First
Always check that the scene is safe for you before helping others.
Ensure Safety
Make sure the area is safe. Wear gloves if available to protect yourself.
Apply Direct Pressure
Press firmly on the wound using a clean cloth, gauze, or your hand.
Add More Cloth
If blood soaks through, DO NOT remove it. Add more cloth on top.
Call for Help
If bleeding doesn't stop within 10 minutes, call 112 immediately. After calling, take them to the nearest emergency department if safe.
Critical Warning
If bleeding is severe or spurting:
- Press HARD on the wound
- Do NOT remove any cloth
- Keep pressure steady
- Call 112 immediately
- After calling 112, go to the nearest emergency department.
Ensure Safety
Make sure you and the person are safe. Remove clothing near the burn only if it's not stuck to the skin.
Cool with Water
Run COOL (not cold) water over the burn for 10-20 minutes. This reduces pain and damage.
Cover the Burn
Loosely cover with a clean, non-fluffy material like cling film or a clean plastic bag.
Seek Medical Help
For burns larger than your palm, on the face/hands/joints, or if blistered/charred, call 112. After calling, go to the nearest emergency department if safe.
Severe Burn Signs
Seek immediate help if:
- Burn is larger than palm size
- Skin is white, brown, or charred
- Burn is on face, hands, or feet
- Person is a child or elderly
- After calling 112, go to the nearest emergency department.
Who is choking?
Assess the Situation
Ask "Are you choking?" If they can cough forcefully, encourage coughing. If they cannot speak, cough, or breathe - act immediately.
Give 5 Back Blows
Stand beside and slightly behind. Support their chest with one hand, lean them forward. Give 5 firm blows between shoulder blades with the heel of your hand.
Heimlich Maneuver (5 Thrusts)
Stand behind, wrap arms around waist. Make a fist above navel, grasp with other hand. Pull sharply inward and upward 5 times.
Repeat Until Clear
Alternate 5 back blows and 5 abdominal thrusts until object is expelled, person can breathe, or becomes unconscious.
Choking Alone? Self-Relief
If you are choking and alone:
- Make a fist above your navel
- Grasp fist with other hand
- Thrust inward and upward sharply
- OR lean over a chair back/counter edge and thrust your upper abdomen against it
- Repeat until object is expelled
If Person Becomes Unconscious
If they stop responding:
- Lower them gently to the ground
- Call 112 immediately
- Begin CPR with chest compressions
- Check mouth for visible object before each breath
- After calling 112, go to the nearest emergency department.
Recognize Choking Signs
Look for: inability to cry or cough, weak/ineffective coughing, high-pitched sounds while breathing, difficulty breathing, bluish skin colour. If the child can cough forcefully, encourage coughing. Do not intervene.
Infant (Under 1 Year): 5 Back Blows
Hold infant face-down along your forearm, supporting the head and jaw. Keep the head lower than the body. Give 5 firm back blows between the shoulder blades using the heel of your hand.
Infant: 5 Chest Thrusts
Turn infant face-up on your forearm. Place 2 fingers on the breastbone just below the nipple line. Give 5 firm chest thrusts, pushing down about 4 cm (1.5 inches). Alternate 5 back blows and 5 chest thrusts until the object comes out. Do NOT use abdominal thrusts on infants.
Child (Over 1 Year): Back Blows & Abdominal Thrusts
Place your arm across the child's chest and bend them forward. Give 5 firm back blows between the shoulder blades. Then stand behind the child, place your fist above the navel, and give 5 quick inward and upward abdominal thrusts. Alternate until the object is expelled.
Key Differences: Infants vs Children
Important age-specific rules:
- Infants (under 1): Use back blows + chest thrusts only. NEVER abdominal thrusts
- Children (over 1): Use back blows + abdominal thrusts (same as adult technique)
- Always support the infant's head and keep it lower than the body
- Use only 2 fingers for infant chest thrusts, not the full hand
- Never do a blind finger sweep of the mouth. Only remove objects you can clearly see
If Child Becomes Unresponsive
Call 112 immediately and begin CPR:
- Place child on a firm, flat surface
- Begin CPR starting with 30 chest compressions
- Check mouth for visible objects before giving breaths
- Give 2 rescue breaths, then continue 30:2 cycles
- For infants: use heel of ONE hand for CPR compressions (2025 AHA guideline), cover mouth and nose for breaths
- After calling 112, go to the nearest emergency department immediately.
Call 112 Now
Check Response
Shake shoulders gently and shout "Are you okay?" Look for any response.
Call 112 & Check Breathing
Call emergency services. Look for chest movement and listen for breathing for no more than 10 seconds. After calling, prepare to go to the nearest emergency department when advised.
Start Chest Compressions
Place heel of hand on center of chest. Push hard and fast - at least 5cm deep, 100-120 per minute. Use the timer below!
Continue Until Help Arrives
Don't stop! If someone else is present, take turns every 2 minutes to avoid fatigue. Tired compressions are less effective.
CPR Technique
Push hard, push fast!
- Heel of hand on center of chest
- Push down at least 5cm (2 inches)
- 100-120 compressions per minute
- Let chest fully recoil between pushes
Don't Get Tired!
Fatigue reduces compression effectiveness:
- If someone else is present, take turns every 2 minutes
- Switch quickly - minimize pauses
- Keep compressions deep and fast
- Continue until emergency help arrives
- After calling 112, prepare for transport to the nearest emergency department when advised.
Act With Confidence: You're Protected
Broken ribs during CPR are normal and treatable. A heart stopped without CPR is fatal.
- Do your best. Imperfect CPR is always better than no CPR
- Broken ribs from CPR heal. They are a known, manageable side effect.
- Ghana is developing formal Good Samaritan protections. Acting in good faith to save a life is always the right choice
- International principle: You are protected when you act reasonably and in good faith
Ensure Safety
Turn off engines, set up warning signs, keep others away from traffic.
Call 112
Give exact location, number of injured, and describe the situation. After calling, take victims to the nearest emergency department only if it is safe and advised.
Check Victims
Check consciousness and breathing. DO NOT move unless in immediate danger.
Control Bleeding
Apply pressure to visible wounds. Keep victims calm and still.
Do Not Move Victims
Unless there's fire or explosion risk:
- Keep their head and neck still
- Talk to them, keep them calm
- Wait for emergency services
- Be ready to give CPR if needed
- After calling 112, go to the nearest emergency department if it is safe and advised.
Face Drooping
Ask them to smile. Does one side of the face droop?
Arm Weakness
Ask them to raise both arms. Does one arm drift down?
Speech Difficulty
Ask them to repeat a simple phrase. Is speech slurred?
Time to Call 112
If ANY signs present, call immediately! Note the time symptoms started. After calling, go to the nearest emergency department immediately.
Stroke Warning Signs
A stroke may start with:
- Sudden severe headache with no known cause
- Sudden confusion or trouble understanding
- Sudden numbness in face, arm, or leg (especially one side)
- Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes
- Sudden dizziness, loss of balance, or difficulty walking
Time Is Brain
Every minute counts!
- Call 112 - say "possible stroke"
- Note EXACT time symptoms started
- Do NOT give food or drink
- Keep person comfortable and calm
- After calling 112, go to the nearest emergency department immediately.
Protect: No Weight
Stop the activity immediately. Do NOT put weight on the injured ankle. Rest and avoid activities that increase pain. Use a bandage, brace, or improvised support if available.
Elevate: Raise It Up
Raise the ankle above heart level within the first 48 hours. Prop it on a pillow or folded clothing while resting. This significantly reduces swelling.
Compress: Wrap the Ankle
Wrap with an elastic bandage from the toes up to mid-calf. Apply with moderate pressure. Not tight enough to cause numbness or tingling. Rewrap if too tight.
Ease Into Movement
After 48-72 hours, begin gentle weight-bearing as pain allows. Early, pain-guided movement speeds recovery. Walk slowly with support if needed. See a doctor if still unable to bear weight.
RICE vs. PEACE & LOVE
Many know RICE (Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation). Current 2025 guidelines now favour PEACE & LOVE. Early movement is key to faster recovery. Ice can help short-term pain but avoid prolonged icing.
When to Seek Urgent Care
Go to emergency if:
- You heard a 'pop' or crack at time of injury
- Cannot put any weight on the ankle after 10-15 minutes
- Severe swelling or bruising rapidly expanding
- Foot or toes are numb, cold, blue, or pale
- Ankle looks deformed or bent at a wrong angle
- After calling 112, go to the nearest emergency department.
Control Any Bleeding
For open wounds, apply gentle pressure around (NOT on) any visible bone using a clean cloth. Do NOT remove objects stuck in wounds. Call 112 immediately for open fractures or suspected broken ankle.
Immobilize: Don't Straighten
Keep the limb in the position you found it. Do NOT try to straighten, realign, or reposition the broken bone. Support the area above and below the break with your hands while waiting.
Apply a Splint
Use any rigid object (straight stick, board, rolled magazine) padded with soft cloth. Secure above and below the fracture. Not on the break itself. Regularly check that fingers/toes remain warm and have feeling.
Broken Ankle: Elevate & Don't Walk
Have the person lie still and do NOT walk on a broken ankle. Elevate the foot if possible. Apply ice wrapped in cloth for 15-20 min intervals. Do not eat or drink in case surgery is needed. Get to emergency care urgently.
Go to Emergency Now If:
Call 112 immediately for:
- Bone is visible through the skin (open fracture)
- Limb is severely deformed, twisted, or at wrong angle
- Toes or fingers below injury are cold, numb, or turning blue
- Severe or rapidly expanding swelling and bruising
- Any suspected broken ankle. Do not walk on it
- After calling 112, go to the nearest emergency department.
Emergency Services
Nearest Emergency Department
Use your location to find the closest emergency department for urgent care.
Support Hotlines
Offline Audio (English)
Download English voice guides once for offline use. After this, audio plays without new API calls.
All numbers are free to call from any phone
Before You Help
Always ensure your own safety first
Check the Scene
- Look for dangers: traffic, fire, electrical wires, unstable structures
- Do not enter if the scene is unsafe
- Move the person only if there's immediate danger
Protect Yourself
- Wear gloves if available when dealing with blood
- Use a barrier (cloth, plastic) when giving rescue breaths
- Wash hands thoroughly after providing first aid
Call for Help
- Call 112 for serious emergencies
- Ask someone nearby to call while you help
- Give clear location and describe the situation
NkwaSafe
Your Life Guide
NkwaSafe is a life-saving first aid guide designed for Ghana. Get step-by-step emergency instructions in multiple local languages.
Features
- Step-by-step guides
- Voice instructions
- Multiple languages
- Works offline
Version 2.0