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First Aid Basics Everyone Should Know

Street Smarts Quiz · Updated October 2026

You do not need to be a doctor to make a real difference in the first minutes after an injury. Knowing a few basics, and knowing when to call for help, can calm a scary situation and prevent a small problem from becoming a bigger one. This article is a general introduction and is not a substitute for a hands-on first aid and CPR course, which we strongly recommend. Organizations such as the Red Cross and St John Ambulance offer them in many communities.

Step one: safety and calling for help

Before helping anyone, check that the scene is safe for you. Traffic, fire, electricity, or deep water can turn a helper into a second victim. Then decide whether emergency services are needed. Call your local emergency number (911 in the United States and Canada, 112 across much of Europe, 999 in the UK) for anyone who is unresponsive, having trouble breathing, bleeding heavily, showing signs of a stroke or heart attack, or seriously injured. If you are unsure, call; dispatchers can guide you through what to do.

Build a simple first aid kit

Keep a kit at home and a smaller one in the car or backpack. Useful contents include:

Check the kit a couple of times a year and replace anything used or expired.

Cuts and scrapes

For minor cuts, wash your hands, then rinse the wound with clean running water to remove dirt. Apply gentle pressure with a clean cloth or gauze to stop bleeding, then cover with a bandage. For heavier bleeding, press firmly and continuously on the wound and do not keep lifting the cloth to check; if blood soaks through, add more layers on top. Seek medical help for deep or gaping wounds, wounds that will not stop bleeding, animal bites, or anything with signs of infection such as spreading redness, warmth, or pus.

Burns

Cool a minor burn under cool (not ice-cold) running water for around twenty minutes. This is one of the most effective things you can do, and it helps even if you start a little late. Remove rings or tight items near the area before it swells. Cover loosely with a clean, non-fluffy material such as plastic cling film or a sterile dressing. Avoid ice, butter, or home remedies, and do not pop blisters. Large burns, burns on the face, hands, or genitals, chemical or electrical burns, and burns on young children need medical attention.

Choking

If an adult or older child is coughing forcefully, encourage them to keep coughing. If they cannot cough, speak, or breathe, call for emergency help and give firm back blows between the shoulder blades, followed by abdominal thrusts if trained to do so, repeating as needed. Techniques differ for infants. This is exactly the kind of skill best learned in a hands-on class, where you can practice on a training manikin.

Sprains and strains

For a twisted ankle or wrist, rest the injured area, apply a cold pack wrapped in a cloth for short periods, use a bandage for gentle support, and keep it raised when possible. Seek care if the person cannot bear weight, if there is obvious deformity, or if pain and swelling are severe or do not improve, since it could be a fracture.

Nosebleeds

Have the person sit and lean forward, not back, so blood does not run down the throat. Pinch the soft part of the nose just below the bony bridge and hold steady pressure for about ten to fifteen minutes. If bleeding is very heavy, follows a head injury, or will not stop after repeated attempts, get medical help.

Recognizing serious emergencies

Some conditions need immediate emergency care. Many health organizations teach the acronym FAST for stroke: Face drooping, Arm weakness, Speech difficulty, Time to call emergency services. Chest pain or pressure, especially with shortness of breath, sweating, or pain spreading to the arm, jaw, or back, can signal a heart attack. Severe allergic reactions can cause swelling of the face or throat and difficulty breathing; people with known allergies may carry an epinephrine auto-injector, and you can help them use it while waiting for help.

CPR and AEDs

If someone is unresponsive and not breathing normally, call emergency services and start chest compressions if you are able; the dispatcher can coach you. Automated external defibrillators (AEDs) are found in many public places and give spoken step-by-step instructions, so anyone can use one. A short CPR class will give you the confidence to act.

Quick recap

Check for safety, call for help when in doubt, keep a stocked kit, and know the basics for cuts, burns, sprains, and nosebleeds. Then take a hands-on course. A few hours of training is one of the most valuable gifts you can give your family and community.

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