First aid on site

This page has safety advice that hasn't yet been checked by our safety reviewer. Treat it as general guidance, and follow your game's, venue's or product's own safety rules first.

A plain-language overview of on-site first aid awareness for new LARP players, covering what to expect before and during an event.

Before any in-person event, find out where the first aid point is and who the designated first aiders are. Most well-run games will tell you this at the safety brief, but if you missed it or cannot remember, ask an organiser before play begins. Knowing this in advance means you are not searching for help under pressure if something goes wrong. If someone is hurt during play, the standard way to pause the game is a safety call — commonly "Man Down" or "Hold" — spoken loudly and clearly so everyone nearby can hear. These calls are not in-character; when you hear one, stop moving, stay quiet, and wait for instructions. Do not crowd around the person who is hurt, as the people helping them need space and clear access. Every game handles these calls slightly differently, so treat your own game's safety brief as the authority on the exact words and procedures used. Once a hold or man-down call goes out, if you have first-aid training and you are close to the person in need, you can offer to help — but defer to the site's designated first aiders if they arrive. If you do not have training, the most useful things you can do are keep bystanders back, fetch a first aider quickly, and stay calm. For anything serious, such as a head injury, difficulty breathing, heavy bleeding or someone who won't wake, call the emergency services straight away rather than waiting; it helps to know the site's address and where an ambulance would come in. Panicking or rushing can make the situation harder for everyone. This guide is general awareness information only and is not a substitute for any game's own safety policy, a recognised first-aid course, or professional medical advice. Rules and procedures vary between games and venues, so always follow the specific guidance given at your event's safety brief. If you are a younger player, make sure a parent, guardian, or trusted adult knows where the first aid point is too.