Once paramedics, police, or fire crews arrive, your job shifts from acting to supporting, and then to looking after yourself.
Handing Things Off
Briefly tell responders what happened, when it happened, and anything you did (compressions started, bleeding controlled, and so on)
Step back once trained responders take over, but stay nearby in case they have questions
If you're a witness, you may be asked for a statement; it's fine to give one when you're ready
Looking After Yourself
It's normal to feel shaky, tearful, or unusually calm afterward; emergencies produce a real physiological response that doesn't disappear the moment the danger does
Take a few minutes before driving or doing anything else that requires focus
Talk to someone about what happened, even informally; processing it out loud helps
When To Seek Further Support
If the event was especially distressing, or involved someone you know, consider talking to a counsellor or your doctor
Critical incident stress is real and common, even after a single, brief event
Important
Helping in an emergency, even imperfectly, makes a genuine difference. You don't need to have done everything right to have helped. Most people who step in make a meaningful difference simply by acting instead of freezing.