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First aid

"First aid: basic skills that save lives"

Knowing how to give first aid is a skill that can save a person's life before the medics arrive. In the first minutes after an injury or sudden deterioration, it is the person nearby — not a doctor — who decides the outcome. This guide collects basic, proven algorithms taught on Red Cross courses. It does not replace full training, but it will help you orient yourself in a critical situation.

General rules: assessing the situation and safety

Before helping, make sure you are safe yourself. You must not become a second victim — then there would be two casualties and no one left to help. Survey the scene: check for danger from traffic, electricity, fire or unstable structures.

Then act in a simple order:

  1. Check responsiveness: speak loudly to the person, gently touch the shoulder.
  2. If there is no response — call for help and dial the emergency service on 103 (ambulance) or 112.
  3. Check breathing: look for movement of the chest, listen, feel for breath on your cheek for 10 seconds.
  4. If needed, begin cardiopulmonary resuscitation.

Phrase your call for help clearly. Instead of «someone call an ambulance», point to a specific person: «You, in the blue jacket, call 103 and come back to tell me you did».

Bleeding: how to stop blood loss

Severe external bleeding is one of the preventable causes of death. Act fast.

  • Press on the wound. Use a clean cloth, a bandage or just your palm (preferably gloved) and press on the bleeding site.
  • Don't remove a soaked cloth — add a new one on top and keep pressing.
  • If bleeding from a limb is severe and won't stop — raise the limb above heart level while keeping the pressure.
  • For life-threatening arterial bleeding, a tourniquet is applied above the wound. Note the time of application — this is critical information for the medics.

After the bleeding stops, cover the wound with a clean dressing and don't remove it. Watch the person's condition: pallor, cold sweat and confusion may indicate shock.

Burns: first actions

With burns, the main rule is to cool, but do no harm.

  • Cool the burn site with cool (not icy) running water for at least 20 minutes.
  • Remove jewellery and clothing that has not stuck to the skin, before swelling forms.
  • Don't pierce blisters or smear the burn with oil, creams or toothpaste — these are common mistakes that make things worse.
  • Cover the burn with a clean, non-fluffy cloth or a special dressing.

Call the medics if the burn is large in area, deep, located on the face, hands, feet, in the area of joints or genitals, and also for burns in children and the elderly.

Loss of consciousness and the recovery position

If a person is unconscious but breathing on their own, they should be placed in the recovery position to prevent vomit from entering the airways.

  1. Lay the person on their side.
  2. Tilt the head slightly back so the airways stay open.
  3. Bend the upper leg at the knee for stability.
  4. Keep monitoring breathing until the ambulance arrives.

Don't leave the person alone. If breathing stops — start resuscitation immediately.

Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR)

If an adult is unresponsive and not breathing normally, start chest compressions.

  • Place the person on a firm, flat surface.
  • Put the heel of your hand on the centre of the chest, the other hand on top.
  • Compress to a depth of about 5–6 cm at a rate of 100–120 compressions per minute.
  • Give 30 compressions, then 2 rescue breaths (if you are trained and willing to do them). If not — give compressions only, without stopping.
  • Don't stop until the medics arrive, signs of life appear, or you are completely exhausted.

If an automated external defibrillator (AED) is nearby, switch it on and follow the device's voice prompts clearly.

Fractures and sprains

If a fracture is suspected, the key is to keep the injured area still and not to try to «set» the bone yourself. Wrong actions can damage blood vessels and nerves.

  • Immobilize the limb in the position it is in, using a splint or improvised materials (a board, stiff cardboard, a rolled-up magazine).
  • Apply cold through a cloth to reduce swelling and pain.
  • Don't give the person food or drink if surgery may be needed.
  • For an open fracture, first stop the bleeding and cover the wound with a clean dressing, without touching the bone.

For sprains and bruises, the simple rule «rest, ice, compression, elevation» applies: limit movement, apply cold, put on an elastic bandage and raise the limb.

Helping at a road traffic accident

A road accident is a situation where panic costs the most. Act step by step and don't rush to pull a person out of the vehicle without need.

  1. Stop in a safe place, turn on hazard lights, set out the warning triangle.
  2. Call the emergency services, clearly stating the location and number of casualties.
  3. Don't move the person unless absolutely necessary — there may be a spinal injury. The exception is the threat of fire or explosion.
  4. Monitor breathing and bleeding until the medics arrive, reassure the casualty, don't leave them alone.

Common mistakes to avoid

Some «folk» methods don't help but harm:

  • smearing burns with oil, sour cream or cream;
  • applying ice directly to the skin without a cloth;
  • trying to give an unconscious person a drink;
  • sharply jerking or moving a casualty with a suspected spinal injury;
  • removing a tourniquet that has already stopped severe bleeding.

Remember: the rescuer's calm passes to the casualty. Even if you are not sure of every action, calling an ambulance and giving basic help already significantly improve the chances of survival.

What to always have on hand

A basic first-aid kit at home and in the car significantly improves the chances of successful help. A useful minimum:

  • sterile bandages and wipes, adhesive plaster;
  • gloves, antiseptic;
  • scissors, a thermal blanket;
  • a tourniquet (provided you know how to use it).

How to learn more

Text gives you the basics, but confidence comes from practice and rehearsal on a manikin. The Red Cross chapter regularly runs first-aid courses for children, teens and adults. In the sessions you'll practise CPR, learn to act with bleeding, burns and fractures, and learn not to lose your head in a stressful situation.

You can sign up for a course on the Courses page, and join the team on the Volunteers page. Together we make the community safer.