Emergency Medicine First Aid

This emergency first aid guide summarises internationally taught steps for the most common life-threatening situations. It is not a substitute for a hands-on first aid or CPR course, which we strongly recommend.

Heart Attack

Signs: chest pain, pressure or tightness lasting more than a few minutes, pain spreading to the arm, jaw or back, breathlessness, sweating, nausea. Do: call emergency services, sit the person down, loosen tight clothing. Emergency dispatchers may advise chewing an aspirin if the person is not allergic. If they collapse and stop breathing normally, start CPR. Read more: heart attack symptoms and treatment.

Stroke: Think FAST

• Face drooping on one side.
• Arm weakness - can they raise both arms?
• Speech slurred or strange.
• Time to call emergency services. Note when symptoms started.

Do not give food or drink. More: stroke symptoms and FAST test.

CPR for Adults (Hands-Only)

1. Check for danger, then response: tap and shout.
2. If unresponsive and not breathing normally, call emergency services and ask for an AED (defibrillator).
3. Place the heel of your hand in the centre of the chest, other hand on top.
4. Push hard and fast: about 5-6 cm deep at 100-120 compressions per minute.
5. If trained, give 30 compressions then 2 rescue breaths; otherwise continue compressions only.
6. Use the AED as soon as it arrives and follow its voice prompts.

Choking

If the person can cough, encourage coughing. If they cannot breathe, speak or cough: give up to 5 back blows between the shoulder blades, then up to 5 abdominal thrusts (Heimlich manoeuvre), and repeat. Call emergency services if the blockage does not clear. For infants, use back blows and chest thrusts, never abdominal thrusts.

Severe Bleeding

Apply firm, direct pressure with a clean cloth and keep pressing. Do not remove soaked dressings; add more on top. If bleeding from a limb cannot be controlled and you are trained, a tourniquet may be used. Call emergency services.

Burns

Cool the burn under cool running water for 20 minutes. Remove jewellery, then cover loosely with cling film or a clean non-fluffy cloth. Do not use ice, toothpaste or butter. Seek care for large, deep, facial or electrical burns, and for children.

Severe Allergic Reaction (Anaphylaxis)

Signs: swelling of lips or throat, wheeze, difficulty breathing, faintness, widespread rash. Use the person's adrenaline auto-injector if available, call emergency services, and lay them down with legs raised (or sitting up if breathing is hard). Antihistamines alone are not enough.

Seizure

Protect the head, move hard objects away, do not restrain or put anything in the mouth. Time the seizure. Call emergency services if it lasts over 5 minutes, repeats, or the person is injured, pregnant or does not wake up. Afterward, place them in the recovery position.

Fractures and Drowning

For suspected fractures, keep the limb still and support it; do not try to straighten it. For drowning, get the person out safely without endangering yourself, call for help and start CPR with rescue breaths if they are not breathing normally.

First Aid Kit Essentials

• Sterile gauze, bandages and adhesive tape
• Disposable gloves and scissors
• Antiseptic wipes
• Digital thermometer
• Oral rehydration salts (see ORS oral rehydration salts guide)
• Emergency numbers written down

Related: symptom checker and heart rate calculator.