The Basics
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. First aid is what you can do before medical help arrives. Taking action right away can help save a life.
- Learn when to call 911.
- Learn how to help someone who is choking.
- Take a class to learn first aid and CPR. CPR is a way to help when someone’s heart or breathing has stopped.
- Keep a first aid kit in your house and your car.
Take Action!
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. Teach your children how to use 911, and keep the number next to the phone.
Do not call 911 for things like a flat tire.
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 use your fist to force out whatever is causing the person to choke. This is called the Heimlich (hime–lick) maneuver.
Watch this
video on how to do the Heimlich maneuver.
Take a first aid and CPR class.
- First aid is what you can do before medical help arrives, like using firm, gentle pressure to stop bleeding.
- CPR is a way to keep a person breathing until help arrives. You need to take a class to learn how to do CPR.
Find a first aid and CPR class in your community.
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, 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 injuries. When you use a kit, replace the supplies.
Use this list to check the supplies in your first aid kits.