First aid A–Z

1. Check for danger, then check for a response — tap the shoulders and shout.
2. Open the airway (tilt the head, lift the chin) and look for normal breathing for no more than 10 seconds.
3. Call the emergency number on speaker. Send someone to find an AED (defibrillator).
4. Kneel beside them. Place the heel of one hand in the centre of the chest, the other hand on top, arms straight.
5. Push down 5–6 cm at 100–120 compressions per minute, letting the chest fully rise between pushes.
6. If trained and willing, give 2 rescue breaths after every 30 compressions. Otherwise, keep going with hands-only CPR.
7. Switch on the AED as soon as it arrives and follow its voice prompts. Don't stop until help takes over or the person starts breathing normally.

Children & infants: technique differs (one hand for a child, two fingers for an infant, about one-third of chest depth). Take a paediatric first-aid course.

1. If they can cough, encourage them to keep coughing.
2. If they can't cough, speak or breathe: lean them forward and give up to 5 sharp back blows between the shoulder blades with the heel of your hand.
3. If that fails, give up to 5 abdominal thrusts: stand behind, fist just above the belly button, pull sharply inward and upward.
4. Alternate 5 back blows and 5 thrusts. Call emergency services if the blockage doesn't clear.
5. If they become unresponsive, lower them to the ground, call for help and start CPR.

1. Call emergency services. Wear gloves if available.
2. Apply firm, direct pressure on the wound with a clean pad or cloth (or your hand).
3. Keep pressing. If blood soaks through, add more pads on top — don't remove the first one.
4. For life-threatening bleeding from an arm or leg, a tourniquet may be applied above the wound if you are trained and one is available.
5. Help them lie down, keep them warm and watch for signs of shock (pale, cold, clammy skin, fast breathing).

1. Stop the burning — move away from the heat source.
2. Cool the burn under cool or lukewarm running water for 20 minutes.
3. Remove rings, watches and clothing near the burn unless stuck to the skin.
4. Cover loosely with cling film or a clean, non-fluffy dressing.
5. Get medical help for large or deep burns, burns to the face, hands, feet or genitals, chemical or electrical burns, and any burn on a child.

1. Call immediately — treatment works best within the first hours.
2. Note the time symptoms started.
3. Keep them comfortable; don't give food, drink or medication.
4. If they become unresponsive and stop breathing normally, start CPR.

Some services teach BE FAST — adding Balance loss and Eye/vision problems.

Signs: chest pain, pressure or tightness that may spread to the arms, neck, jaw, back or stomach; shortness of breath; sweating; nausea; light-headedness. Women and older adults may have milder or unusual symptoms.

1. Call emergency services immediately.
2. Help them sit down, leaning back with knees bent, and keep them calm.
3. If the dispatcher advises and they're not allergic, an adult may chew one aspirin.
4. Help them take their own prescribed angina medication if they have it.
5. If they become unresponsive and stop breathing normally, start CPR and use an AED.

Use for someone who is unresponsive but breathing normally, to keep the airway clear.

1. Kneel beside them. Place the arm nearest you at a right angle to the body.
2. Bring the far arm across the chest and hold the back of their hand against their near cheek.
3. Bend the far knee up, then pull on it to roll them towards you onto their side.
4. Tilt the head back slightly to keep the airway open. Check breathing continuously until help arrives.

1. Protect them from injury — move hard objects away, cushion the head.
2. Don't restrain them and don't put anything in their mouth.
3. Time the seizure.
4. When it stops, check breathing and place them in the recovery position. Stay with them.

Signs: swelling of the tongue or throat, difficulty breathing or swallowing, wheeze, faintness, widespread rash — often minutes after a trigger (food, sting, medicine).

1. Call emergency services and say "anaphylaxis".
2. Help them use their adrenaline (epinephrine) auto-injector into the outer thigh.
3. Lie them down with legs raised — or sit up if breathing is difficult. Don't make them stand or walk.
4. If there's no improvement after 5 minutes and a second injector is available, give it.
5. Start CPR if they stop breathing normally.

1. Don't move them unless they're in danger. Stop any bleeding first.
2. Support the injured part in the position you found it — padding, a sling, or their own hands.
3. Apply a cold pack wrapped in cloth for up to 20 minutes to reduce swelling.
4. Call emergency services for suspected breaks of the thigh, hip, pelvis, spine or skull, bone through skin, or loss of feeling.

Heat stroke (hot skin, confusion, collapse, very high temperature) is a medical emergency.

1. Call emergency services.
2. Move them to a cool, shaded place and remove excess clothing.
3. Cool rapidly: cold water on the skin, wet cloths and fanning, cold packs to the neck, armpits and groin.
4. If fully alert, give sips of water. Don't give fluids to anyone confused or drowsy.

1. Move them somewhere warm and dry; replace wet clothing.
2. Warm gradually with blankets, covering the head. Share body heat if needed.
3. If fully alert, give warm (not alcoholic) drinks and high-energy food.
4. Don't rub limbs or use hot water bottles directly on skin. Call emergency services for severe cases.

1. Call your poison centre or emergency number — see our poison helplines.
2. Don't make them vomit. Keep the container or label to show responders.
3. Chemical on skin: remove contaminated clothing and rinse with running water for 20 minutes. In eyes: rinse gently with water for at least 15 minutes.
4. If they become unresponsive and stop breathing normally, start CPR.

1. Have them rest and apply a cold compress to reduce swelling.
2. Monitor them closely for the next 24 hours.

1. Help them sit upright and stay calm.
2. Help them take their reliever inhaler (usually blue) — typically one puff every 30–60 seconds, up to 10 puffs, ideally with a spacer.
3. If they don't improve or get worse, call emergency services. Repeat the reliever while you wait.