First Aid Tips

If someone near you is experiencing a medical emergency, call 911 immediately. A few minutes can make a huge difference for someone experiencing a stroke or heart attack. For other emergencies, there are steps you can take to help.

If someone is choking and is not pregnant, you can help. Support the person in need by steadying him from behind with one hand and using the other hand to hit him between the shoulder blades, causing him to cough. If this doesn’t work, stand behind him, make a fist and place it between his rib cage and belly button, cover your closed fist with your other hand and press hard into the individual and repeat. If this fails, call 911.

If someone has an open wound without an embedded object, check the severity of bleeding. For wounds with light to moderate bleeding, you can use a first aid kit to bandage it. First, clean your hands or wear disposable gloves, then clean the wound using water and bandage it without applying ointment. Depending on the situation, call a medical provider or visit an urgent care clinic. If the wounds are more extensive, attempt to stop bleeding using a tourniquet and dial 911. If the wound has an embedded object, dial 911 immediately.

If someone has stopped breathing or you suspect her heart has stopped, she may need cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). If you haven’t taken a formal CPR class, it’s best to call 911 and perform hands-only CPR while you wait on the ambulance, according to the American Heart Association.

To perform hands-only CPR, kneel beside the unconscious person. Position the person on her back and place the heel of one of your hands on the center of her chest. Place your other hand on top and press down to start chest compressions. Aim for 100 compressions per minute, or to the beat of the Bee Gee’s tune “Stayin’ Alive.”

If your arms get fatigued, look for someone to help. Keep going until an ambulance arrives or the person begins breathing. To learn more, visit heart.org and search for “hands-only CPR.”

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