First Aid Basics: What Everyone Should Know

# Why first aid saves lives

Every year in the US, roughly 350,000 people experience out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. Fewer than 10% survive. Not because help arrives too late — but because bystanders don’t act. The math is stark: for every minute without CPR, survival odds drop by about 10%. Intervening within the first 4–5 minutes, before irreversible brain damage begins, can double or triple the chance of survival.

Cardiac arrest isn’t the only threat. Uncontrolled bleeding, choking, and shock can all become fatal in minutes — and can be managed with a handful of learned skills.

First aid isn’t expert knowledge. It’s a dozen techniques you can learn in a single day and remember for life.

# The 7 core skills

# 1. Calling emergency services correctly

US/Canada: 911 · Europe: 112 · UK: 999

When you call, follow the 5 W’s:

• Where is the emergency? (exact address, landmarks, GPS if needed)
• What happened? (cardiac arrest, injury, accident)
• How many people are affected?
• What injuries or symptoms are present?
• Wait for instructions — never hang up first

Dispatchers will guide you through CPR, positioning, and bleeding control step by step. Stay calm and listen.

# 2. Recognizing and responding to unconsciousness

Check in this order:

1. Talk: “Can you hear me?” — loudly and clearly
2. Touch: Shake the shoulders firmly
3. Check breathing: Tilt the head back to open the airway, look and listen for up to 10 seconds

Normal breathing present → Recovery position (→ Skill 3) No normal breathing → Start CPR immediately (→ Skill 4)

# 3. Recovery position

For unconscious people who are still breathing: prevents choking from the tongue falling back or from vomit.

Steps:

1. Extend the far arm at a right angle
2. Bring the near hand to the cheek
3. Pull up the far knee and roll them onto their side
4. Tilt the head slightly back, open the mouth slightly
5. Check breathing every 2 minutes — their condition can change

# 4. CPR (Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation)

For unconscious, not breathing normally: start immediately.

Hand position: Center of the chest, lower half of the breastbone.

Technique:

• Heel of one hand on chest, other hand on top, fingers interlocked
• Arms straight, pressing vertically down
• Depth: 2–2.4 inches (5–6 cm)
• Rate: 100–120 compressions per minute (sing “Stayin’ Alive” by Bee Gees)
• Allow full chest recoil between compressions

Ratio: 30 compressions : 2 rescue breaths. If rescue breaths feel wrong or you’re untrained: Hands-Only CPR (continuous compressions, no breaths) is just as effective and widely recommended.

Don’t stop until: EMS arrives, an AED is attached, the person starts breathing normally, or you’re physically unable to continue.

# 5. Using an AED

AEDs are installed in airports, malls, gyms, schools, and many public buildings. They are designed for untrained bystanders — turn it on and follow the voice prompts.

Steps:

1. Power on (open the lid or press the button)
2. Attach pads as shown in the diagram (right below collarbone, left below armpit)
3. Let the device analyze — no one touches the person
4. If shock is advised: clear everyone away, press the shock button
5. Resume CPR immediately after the shock

Find AED locations: Search “AED near me” in Google Maps, or use www.pulsepoint.org (US).

# 6. Stopping bleeding

Severe bleeding can be fatal within minutes. Priority: pressure, pressure, pressure.

Direct compression:

1. Place a sterile gauze pad directly on the wound
2. Press firmly with the full palm — do not release
3. Secure with a pressure bandage (wound dressing)
4. If the dressing soaks through, add more material on top — do not remove the first layer

Tourniquet for limb injuries: For life-threatening, uncontrollable bleeding on an arm or leg, a tourniquet (or improvised substitute — belt, fabric strip) can be life-saving. Apply as high on the limb as possible and note the time. Inform EMS when they arrive.

# 7. Shock position

Shock is not fainting — it’s a life-threatening circulatory failure. Signs: pale skin, cold sweat, rapid weak pulse, confusion, extreme thirst.

Shock position: Lay the person flat and raise legs 12–18 inches (unless there are leg, pelvis, or spinal injuries). Keep them warm (emergency blanket!), reassure them, allow small sips of water if conscious. Do not leave them alone.

Exceptions: Head, chest, or abdominal injuries — keep flat or in a comfortable semi-upright position.

# Additional skills worth knowing

# Heimlich maneuver (choking)

For a choking adult or child (over 1 year) who can no longer cough:

1. Stand behind them, one hand balled into a fist between navel and ribcage
2. Cover with the other hand
3. Pull sharply inward and upward — repeat up to 5 times
4. Alternate with 5 firm back blows (flat hand between shoulder blades)

For infants: face-down back blows, then chest thrusts on fingers.

# Burns

• Cool immediately: 15–20 minutes with cool (not cold) running water (60–70°F / 15–20°C) — no ice, no butter, no toothpaste
• Remove clothing if possible, remove jewelry
• Cover with sterile foil or clean cloth
• Burns larger than one palm, on the face, or affecting breathing: call 911

# Hypothermia

Signs: shivering, slurred speech, confusion, loss of consciousness.

• Do not rewarm rapidly (risk of cardiac arrhythmia)
• Remove wet clothes gently, wrap in blankets or sleeping bag
• Warm the core, not the extremities
• Warm (not hot) drinks only if fully conscious

# Anaphylaxis (severe allergic reaction)

Signs: hives, swelling of lips or throat, difficulty breathing, drop in blood pressure.

• Call 911 immediately
• Use epinephrine auto-injector (EpiPen) if available — outer thigh, through clothing
• Lay person flat, raise legs
• If struggling to breathe: semi-upright position

# Refresher courses: where & cost

# Why refresh regularly?

Guidelines change (hands-only CPR, updated tourniquet use), and physical skills fade fast. Recommendation: every 2 years. A basic course is required for a driver’s license in many countries — treat it as a regular maintenance item.

# Providers and costs (US)

Find a course:

• www.redcross.org/take-a-class
• cpr.heart.org/en/cpr-courses-and-kits

Employer note: Many workplaces are required to have trained first aiders (OSHA guidelines). Employers often cover course costs — check with HR.

# Free learning: YouTube picks

No video replaces hands-on practice — but for a solid introduction, a refresher between courses, or a quick look-up, these channels are worth bookmarking:

# English

St John Ambulance One of the world’s oldest and most trusted first aid organizations. Short, clear videos on every emergency situation — CPR, choking, strokes, anaphylaxis. 🔗 youtube.com/@stjohnambulance

American Red Cross Official channel with wide coverage: disaster preparedness, CPR, certification content, and first aid for specific situations. 🔗 youtube.com/@AmericanRedCross

Hands-Only CPR (American Heart Association) Search: “Hands-Only CPR AHA” — a 90-second video that demonstrates the only two things you need to know to save a life.

# German

Deutsches Rotes Kreuz (DRK) Full first aid course videos in German, including complete units on CPR, shock treatment, and bandaging techniques. 🔗 youtube.com/@DRK_Bundesverband

# The right first aid kit

Knowledge alone isn’t enough — you need the right materials within reach. Needs differ by context:

# For your car

In Germany, a DIN 13164-compliant kit is legally required. The 2022 revision added FFP2 masks and additional gloves. For the US, while not legally required, keeping a basic kit in the car is strongly recommended.

Leina-Werke Pro Safe Auto-Kit (DIN 13164) ↗ Swiss Safe 2-in-1 First Aid Kit ↗

# For home and outdoor

A solid home or outdoor kit goes beyond the car standard: pressure bandage, tourniquet, emergency blanket, multiple pairs of nitrile gloves, trauma shears, tweezers, blister plasters, activated charcoal.

Swiss Safe 2-in-1 First Aid Kit (Amazon.com) ↗ Swiss Safe First Aid Kit (Amazon.co.uk) ↗

# Build your own or buy pre-packed?

We’ve put together a detailed breakdown of what should be in any good kit — including a comparison of the best pre-packed options:

👉 The Perfect First Aid Kit: What You Actually Need

First aid is one of the most valuable skills anyone can have — and one of the most underused. The good news: you can learn to save a life in one day. Sign up for a course, watch a few videos, keep a solid kit nearby. That’s all it takes to make a difference when it counts.