First Aid Basics Everyone Should Know Before an Emergency

Updated 2026-04-04 00:00:00 +0000 UTC

In a real emergency, paramedics may be 10 to 30 minutes away. What you do in those first minutes matters more than anything. These are the basics that every adult should know.

The ABCs: Airway, Breathing, Circulation

When someone is unresponsive, check the ABCs in order.

Airway: Is the airway open? Tilt the head back and lift the chin to open the airway. Look for visible obstructions.

Breathing: Is the person breathing? Look for chest rise. Listen for breath sounds. Feel for air on your cheek. If the person is not breathing, begin CPR.

Circulation: Is there a pulse? Check the carotid artery on the side of the neck. If there is no pulse and the person is not breathing, call 911 immediately and start CPR.

How to do hands-only CPR

If you are not trained in CPR, hands-only CPR is still highly effective:

1. Place the heel of your hand on the center of the chest.
2. Push hard and fast, at least 2 inches deep.
3. Aim for 100 to 120 compressions per minute (the beat of “Stayin’ Alive” by the Bee Gees).
4. Keep going until help arrives or an AED is available.

Hands-only CPR more than doubles survival chances for cardiac arrest outside a hospital.

Bleeding Control

Most bleeding stops with direct pressure. Here is the approach:

1. Put on gloves if available. If not, use the cleanest material you have.
2. Press firmly on the wound with a clean cloth or bandage.
3. Do not remove the cloth if it soaks through. Add more material on top and keep pressing.
4. Hold pressure for a minimum of 10 minutes without peeking.
5. For wounds on arms or legs that will not stop bleeding with direct pressure, a tourniquet may be necessary.

For wounds that will not stop: Apply a tourniquet 2 to 3 inches above the wound on the limb. Tighten until the bleeding stops. Note the time. Do not remove it.

A well-stocked first aid kit should include bandages, gauze, medical tape, and gloves for exactly these situations.

1. Everlit 250 Piece First Aid Kit — Best All-Around Kit

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2. Israeli Bandage Emergency Pressure Bandage — Best for Wound Control

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Burns

For minor burns (redness, no blisters):

1. Cool the burn under cool (not cold) running water for 10 to 20 minutes.
2. Do not use ice, butter, or toothpaste.
3. Cover loosely with a sterile bandage.
4. Over-the-counter pain reliever helps with discomfort.

For serious burns (blisters, white or charred skin, burns on face, hands, or genitals): Call 911. Do not attempt to remove clothing stuck to the burn. Cover loosely with a clean cloth or sheet and wait for help.

Do not pop blisters. They protect against infection.

Choking

For a conscious adult or child over 1 year old:

1. Ask: “Are you choking?” If they cannot speak or cough, act now.
2. Give 5 firm back blows between the shoulder blades with the heel of your hand.
3. Give 5 abdominal thrusts (Heimlich maneuver): stand behind the person, make a fist above the navel, and thrust inward and upward.
4. Alternate between back blows and abdominal thrusts until the object is expelled or the person loses consciousness.

For an unconscious person: Begin CPR. Each time you open the airway to give breaths, look for and remove any visible object before attempting ventilation.

For infants under 1 year: Do not use abdominal thrusts. Use back blows and chest thrusts only.

When to Call 911

Call immediately for:

• No pulse or not breathing
• Unresponsive or unconscious
• Chest pain or pressure
• Stroke symptoms (face drooping, arm weakness, speech difficulty)
• Severe allergic reaction
• Serious burns
• Heavy bleeding that will not stop
• Suspected spinal injury (do not move the person)
• Seizure that lasts more than 5 minutes or first-time seizure

When in doubt, call. Dispatchers can guide you through first aid steps over the phone until help arrives.

Get Trained

Reading about first aid is a good start. Taking a class is better. The American Red Cross offers CPR, first aid, and AED training in most cities, often in a single afternoon. Their official manual covers everything in this guide plus more.

3. Red Cross First Aid/CPR/AED Manual — Best Reference Guide

The official American Red Cross manual. Covers CPR, AED use, choking, bleeding, burns, shock, and more with clear photos and step-by-step instructions.

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• Full-color photos for every procedure
• Written by the American Red Cross
• Great reference to keep in your kit

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The Honest Bottom Line

You do not need to be a paramedic. You need to know these four things: how to keep an airway open, how to stop bleeding, how to do CPR, and when to call for help. Those four skills cover the vast majority of life-threatening emergencies that happen before professional help can arrive.

Spend an afternoon learning them. It is time well spent.