Free interactive tool
Enter the readings you have. For adults it works out the NEWS2 score UK hospitals and ambulance services use; for children under 5 the NICE traffic light; and for ages 5–15 it checks each reading against the normal range. Save readings to see the trend. Everything stays on this device.
From the guide Emergency Medical Survival: vital signs →
Emergency? Call 999. This is a guide, not a diagnosis. Anyone who looks seriously unwell, is getting worse, or who you are worried about needs help whatever the numbers say.
The trend over three sets of readings tells you more than any single set. Readings are kept in this browser on this device only. Print the log to hand to a doctor or paramedic.
| NEWS2 total (adults) | What it means |
|---|---|
| 0 | Low. Keep watching; check again within 12 hours, sooner if they seem worse. |
| 1–4 | Low. Check at least every 4–6 hours. |
| A 3 in any one reading | Urgent review: get advice now (NHS 111 or a doctor). Check at least every hour. |
| 5–6 | Medium. Urgent medical review; think of sepsis. Check at least every hour. |
| 7 or more | High. Emergency: call 999 or get them to hospital. |
NEWS2 is for adults aged 16 and over. It is not designed for pregnancy, or for children, so those use other checks here. Under 5s: one red sign makes a child high risk however well everything else looks; amber means they need seeing today. Sources: Royal College of Physicians, National Early Warning Score 2 (2017); NICE NG143, fever in under 5s (traffic light); APLS normal values; the Emergency Medical Survival guide.