Basic First Aid Tips Everyone Should Know
First aid refers to the emergency or immediate care provided to someone who is injured or ill before professional medical treatment is available. Having some fundamental first aid knowledge can help save lives in crisis situations. While formal first aid training is ideal, there are some basic skills everyone can and should learn.
This guide covers indispensable first aid information, from assembling a well-stocked kit to addressing breaching, burns, fractures, and more. Read on for tips everyone needs to handle medical emergencies confidently and compassionately.
First Aid Kit Essentials
The first step in first aid preparedness is gathering the right supplies. Customize your first aid kit based on your family’s needs, individual risk factors, ages of members, and presence of chronic illnesses. Also consider duplicate kits for home, work, school, vehicles and travel.
Must-Have Basic Components
These standard first aid kit items can address a wide range of minor to moderate injuries and conditions:
- Adhesive bandages: Assorted sizes and shapes
- Gauze pads and rolls: For applying pressure to wounds
- Adhesive tape: For securing dressings and bandages
- Antiseptic wipes: For cleaning wounds
- Antibiotic ointment: To prevent infection
- Medical gloves: Reduce disease transmission
- Trauma pads: Absorb blood from serious wounds
- Cold pack: Manage swelling
- Scissors and tweezers: Remove debris and splinters
- CPR mask or barrier: Safe rescue breathing
- Oral thermometer: Check for fevers indicating infection
Medications
Include over-the-counter medications for pain relief, allergy symptoms, diarrhea, nausea, and other common ailments:
- Acetaminophen and ibuprofen
- Antihistamines
- Antidiarrheals
- Antacids
When To Call Emergency Services
Though first aid can assist with many minor health issues, more serious injuries and symptoms warrant calling emergency services immediately.
Call Emergency Services For:
- Unresponsiveness or difficulty breathing
- Excessive bleeding that won’t stop
- Severe burns, electrical burns, smoke inhalation
- Sudden, severe pain or pressure
- Potential internal injuries from falls or accidents
- Injuries with protruding objects embedded
- Neck or spine damage risk from impacts
- Severe allergic reactions: swelling, trouble breathing
- Seizures not stopping after 5 minutes
- Possible heart attack: chest pain, shortness of breath
- Possible stroke: numbness, facial drooping, slurred speech
Don’t hesitate to activate the emergency response system by calling 911 (or your country’s equivalent number) when someone’s condition seems life-threatening or unstable. You can always end the call if the situation improves before help arrives.
Conducting an Initial Assessment
When coming upon an injured or ill person, follow these basic steps to determine the severity of the situation and need for potential intervention:
1. Check for Responsiveness
Gently tap their shoulder and ask loudly, “Are you okay?” If no response, rub knuckles on breastbone to prompt a response.
2. Open the Airway
If they remain unresponsive, open airway by gently tilting head back and lifting chin up to allow breathing.
3. Check for Breathing
Watch the chest closely for movement and listen and feel for airflow for 5-10 seconds while maintaining an open airway.
4. Conduct Compressions and Rescue Breathing
If no breathing detected, have someone call 911 immediately then begin cycles of 30 chest compressions and 2 rescue breaths. Provide basic life support CPR until help arrives or they regain consciousness.
Learn more about CPR from the Red Cross
Controlling Significant Bleeding
Uncontrolled bleeding represents an immediate threat to survival. Follow these key steps if serious bleeding occurs before emergency help can arrive:
1. Apply Direct Pressure
Have victim lie down then press firmly on wound with clean gauze, towel or even bare hands if nothing else available. Applying pressure helps blood clot.
2. Elevate Bleeding Limb Above Heart
If possible, safely prop up arm or leg to use gravity to slow blood flow to wound. Never elevate if you suspect broken bones.
3. Apply Tourniquet Only If Unable to Stop Bleeding
In limited cases of massive bleeding uncontrolled by direct pressure due to severe lacerations or amputations, apply tourniquet tightly 2-3 inches above wound to restrict all blood flow. Note application time.
Treating Burns
Thermal and electrical burns can cause severe tissue damage made exponentially worse if handled incorrectly. Follow these evidence-based tips for providing first aid for burns before emergency medical help arrives:
1. Stop the Burning Process
Remove clothing and jewelry near burns. For chemical burns, flush skin with cool running water 15-20 minutes.
2. Cool the Burned Area
Hold under cool (not cold) running water for 10-15 minutes or until pain subsides then pat dry. Using ice can damage skin further.
3. Cover Lightly with Non-Adhesive Bandage
Apply antibacterial ointment then wrap in clean, sterile dressing to protect from infection. Loosely secure edges of bandages so no direct pressure applied to damaged skin.
4. Manage Pain
Assist victim in taking over-the-counter acetaminophen or ibuprofen to help relieve pain according to package directions.
Learn more about treating burns at home
Caring for Musculoskeletal Injuries
Sprains, strains, fractures and dislocations are common injuries involving structures like ligaments, muscles, bones and joints. Here is how to provide effective first aid:
Sprains and Strains
- Follow R.I.C.E. treatment plan: Rest, Ice, Compress (bandage), Elevate
- Use sling or swath for arm/shoulder strains
- Take OTC pain medication
- Seek medical care for complete tears or fractures
Fractures and Dislocations
- Immobilize injury by splinting with rigid object
- Treat site gently – don’t try to reposition
- Elevate above heart level if possible
- Apply ice packs to limit swelling
- Get X-rays to confirm, realign bone/joint
Handling Allergic Reactions
Allergies affect over 50 million Americans each year. Some reactions can become life-threatening without swift first aid intervention.
1. Check Airway and Breathing
If air passages swell severely from anaphylaxis, blockage can prevent oxygen intake quickly. Monitor airway and breathing continuously during allergic reaction emergencies.
2. Administer Epinephrine Auto-injector
If breathing difficulty escalates or other worrisome symptoms present, administer epinephrine via an autoinjector device like EpiPen without delay. Proper injection into thigh can counteract dangerous allergy effects.
3. Call Emergency services
Emergency services should be contacted immediately in case emergency medication, IV fluids or other medical interventions are necessary to stabilize person.
4. Continue Monitoring Airway and Breathing
Stay vigilant for recurrent reactions and further airway obstruction even after epinephrine administration until emergency personnel arrive.
Poisoning Emergencies
Accidental poisoning sends over 300,000 people to emergency rooms each year. Take the following lifesaving actions while awaiting professional medical care after poison exposure:
Ingested Poisons
- Call Emergency Services
- Administer activated charcoal if advised
- Do not induce vomiting
Inhaled Poisons
- Get victim to fresh air
- Open doors and windows
- Turn off gas utilities
Contact Poisons
- Remove contaminated clothing
- Rinse skin with lukewarm water for 15 minutes
- Wash eyes with saline for 15 minutes
Choking First Aid
Choking is extremely time sensitive – brain death results after 4-6 minutes without oxygen. Follow American Red Cross choking treatment guidelines:
- Ask “Are you choking? Can I help?”
- If nodding yes or unable to speak, stand behind them, wrap your arms around to their abdomen.
- Make fist with one hand, put thumb side on middle abdomen just above navel.
- Grasp fist tightly with other hand, pull forcefully inward and upward.
- Repeat thrusts until obstruction pops out or they become unresponsive.
- If they lose consciousness also call emergency services in your country then begin