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

According to the National Safety Council, choking is one of the top five leading causes of unintentional injury death. 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 is Wounded

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

If Someone's Breathing or Heart Stops

If someone stops breathing or if you suspect her heart has stopped, she may need cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). The American Heart Association reports CPR can double or even triple survival rates from cardiac arrest if performed immediately. However, 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.

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."

Keep going until an ambulance arrives or the person begins breathing. To learn more, visit American Heart Association's page on hands-only CPR.

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