Learn First Aid

The Basics Knowing basic first aid can help you deal with injuries and emergencies. Do you know what to do in an emergency? What if someone has a heart attack or gets stung by a bee?An accident or emergency can happen at any time. Giving first aid is what you can do to help someone before medical help arrives. Taking action right away can help save a life.<ul ><li>Learn when to call 911.</li><li>Learn how to help someone who is choking.</li><li>Take a class to learn first aid and CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation). CPR is a way to help when someone’s heart or breathing has stopped by providing chest compressions.</li><li>Keep a first aid kit in your house and your car.</li></ul>Find out more about:<ul><li><a href="http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/firstaid.html" >First aid</a></li><li><a href="http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/cpr.html" >CPR</a></li></ul>

Take Action! Sign up for a first aid class in your community. Plan ahead for injuries and emergencies.Learn when to call 911. Call 911 when you need help right away. Call 911 if someone is seriously hurt, stops breathing, or if there is a fire. Don’t call 911 for things like a flat tire.<ul ><li><a href="http://www.911.gov/whencall.html" >Get more information on when to call 911</a>.</li><li><a href="http://kidshealth.org/parent/firstaid_safe/emergencies/911.html" >Teach your children how to use 911</a>, and keep the number next to the phone.</li></ul>Learn what to do when someone is choking. When someone is choking on food or a small object, it’s important to act right away. You can press your fist against a person’s stomach to force out whatever is causing that person to choke. This is called the Heimlich (“HIME-lik”) maneuver.<ul ><li><a href="http://depts.washington.edu/learncpr/videodemo/choking-adult-video.html" >Watch this video on how to do the Heimlich maneuver</a>. <a href="http://healthfinder.gov/HealthTopics/../aboutus/disclaimer.aspx"> <img alt="External Links Disclaimer Logo" border="0" height="10" src="http://healthfinder.gov/HealthTopics/../images/exit_disclaimer.png" width="10" /></a></li><li><a href="http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/001983.htm" >Find out how to do the Heimlich maneuver on yourself if you are alone and choking</a>.</li></ul>Take a first aid and CPR class. Taking a class will teach you how to give first aid and CPR correctly. This training will help you respond quickly and safely in emergencies.<a href="http://www.redcross.org/take-a-class" >Find a first aid and CPR class in your community</a>. <a href="http://healthfinder.gov/HealthTopics/../aboutus/disclaimer.aspx"> <img alt="External Links Disclaimer Logo" border="0" height="10" src="http://healthfinder.gov/HealthTopics/../images/exit_disclaimer.png" width="10" /></a>Keep a first aid kit in your house and your car. A first aid kit has the things you need to treat someone who is hurt. It includes supplies like bandages, tape, and scissors. It’s a good idea to have one kit for the house and one for the car.Make sure each first aid kit has directions on how to treat basic injuries and when to get more help. After you use your kit, remember to replace the supplies.<a href="http://home.fema.gov/plan/prepare/firstaid.shtm" >Use this list to check the supplies in your first aid kits</a>.

Start Today: Small Steps <ul><li><a href="http://familydoctor.org/familydoctor/en/prevention-wellness/staying-healthy/first-aid/first-aid-cuts-scrapes-and-stitches.printerview.all.html" >Put these instructions for treating cuts, scrapes, and stitches in your first aid kit</a>. </li><li><a href="http://kidshealth.org/parent/firstaid_safe/sheets/nosebleeds_sheet.html" >Find out how to treat a nosebleed</a>. </li><li><a href="http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/page/pack-smart.htm#travelhealthkit" >Know what to pack in your first aid kit when you travel [PDF - 578 KB]</a>. </li></ul>