First Aid Basics: Be Prepared for Emergencies
Knowing basic first aid can save lives—including those of people you love. These fundamentals help you respond while waiting for professional help.
Explore Home & Finance Skills →
The Priority: Call for Help
- Unconsciousness
- Difficulty breathing
- Severe bleeding
- Chest pain
- Suspected stroke
- Severe allergic reaction
- Major trauma
First aid supports—not replaces—professional care.
CPR Basics
If someone is unresponsive and not breathing normally:
- Call 911 (or have someone else call)
- Check for breathing (look, listen, feel for 10 seconds)
- Begin compressions:
- Continue until help arrives or they start breathing
CPR certification is worth getting—this is just an overview.
Choking
Conscious Adult
If they can't cough, speak, or breathe:
- Stand behind them
- Make fist, place above navel
- Grasp fist with other hand
- Give quick upward thrusts
- Repeat until object dislodges
If You're Alone and Choking
- Make fist above navel
- Use chair back or countertop to thrust against
Bleeding Control
Severe Bleeding
- Apply pressure — Direct, firm pressure with clean cloth
- Don't remove cloth — Add more on top if blood soaks through
- Elevate — Raise injured limb above heart if possible
- Call 911 — For severe or uncontrolled bleeding
Minor Cuts
- Clean with water
- Apply antibiotic ointment
- Cover with bandage
- Watch for infection (redness, swelling, warmth)
Burns
For Minor Burns
- Cool with water — Run cool (not cold) water for 10-20 minutes
- Don't use ice — Can damage tissue
- Don't apply butter/oil — Old myth, can trap heat
- Cover loosely — Clean bandage
- Take pain reliever if needed
For Severe Burns
- Call 911
- Don't remove stuck clothing
- Cover with clean cloth
- Keep victim warm
Build a First Aid Kit
- Adhesive bandages (various sizes)
- Gauze pads and tape
- Elastic bandage
- Antibiotic ointment
- Pain relievers
- Tweezers
- Scissors
- Disposable gloves
- Emergency blanket
- First aid manual
Keep one at home and in your car.
Get Trained
- CPR certification (Red Cross, AHA)
- First aid course
- Stop the Bleed training
Hands-on practice is essential for emergencies.
Emergency Preparedness
- Local emergency numbers
- Location of nearest hospital
- Family emergency plan
- Meeting points if separated
- First aid kit
- Emergency supplies
- Important documents accessible
- Contact information for family