Cheat sheet: First aid and health

1. 1Take in the scene – Pause briefly: what has happened?
2. 2Make safe – Secure the scene as far as you can without endangering yourself, for example with a high-visibility vest and warning triangle on the road.
3. 3Call the emergency number – Call the local emergency number (112 in the EU) or address someone directly: "You there, call 112!" Calmly say where you are, what has…
4. 4Have an AED and helpers fetched – If a person does not respond, send other bystanders to fetch an AED (defibrillator).
5. 5Speak to and check the person – Speak to them, touch their shoulders gently.
6. 6Look after them until help arrives – Stay with the person, reassure them, protect them from cold, wet or heat and watch for changes.

Danger: Your own safety comes first: with fire, smoke, smell of gas, electrical contact, moving water or moving traffic, do not enter the danger zone. An injured helper can no longer help anyone.

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1. 1Check safety – Check that you can reach the person safely.
2. 2Speak and touch – Speak loudly ("Hello, can you hear me?") and gently touch or shake their shoulders.
3. 3Open the airway – Turn the person onto their back, gently tilt the head back and lift the chin.
4. 4Check breathing – For no more than about ten seconds look, listen and feel whether the person is breathing normally: does the chest rise and fall?
5. 5Call and AED – If the person is not breathing normally: immediately call the local emergency number (112 in the EU), switch on the speaker and send…
6. 6Resuscitation as instructed – Start chest compressions in the centre of the chest, following the dispatcher's instructions exactly.
7. 7Attach the AED – As soon as the AED arrives: switch it on and follow the voice and picture prompts.
8. 8Breathing normally: recovery position – If the person is breathing normally but not responding, place them in the recovery position, call the emergency number and keep checking…

Danger: Gasping is not normal breathing: occasional, slow, gasping or noisy breaths can occur in the first minutes of a cardiac arrest. When in doubt, act as if breathing is absent and tell the dispatcher.

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1. 1Kneel beside the person – Kneel beside the person lying on their back.
2. 2Bend the near arm – Place the arm nearest you at a right angle to the body, elbow bent, palm facing up.
3. 3Far arm to the cheek – Bring the other arm across the chest and hold the back of the hand against the cheek nearest you.
4. 4Raise the far leg – With your free hand, grasp the leg on the far side just above the knee and bend it up, keeping the foot on the ground.
5. 5Roll towards you – Pull on the bent leg and roll the person towards you onto their side, while the hand stays at the cheek.
6. 6Stabilise the position – Adjust the upper leg so that hip and knee are bent at roughly right angles.
7. 7Tilt the head, mouth downwards – Tilt the head slightly back to keep the airway open; adjust the hand under the cheek so that the mouth points towards the ground and fluid…
8. 8Cover, call, monitor – Cover the person, call the emergency number (if not done yet) and check breathing regularly until the ambulance arrives.

Danger: Breathing can deteriorate at any time. Stay with the person and keep checking breathing. If they stop breathing normally, turn them onto their back at once, inform the dispatcher and start resuscitation.

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1. 1Protect yourself – Put on disposable gloves if immediately available.
2. 2Call – Call the emergency number or explicitly ask someone to do it (112 in the EU).
3. 3Press directly on the wound – Place a dressing or a clean cloth directly on the bleeding point and press firmly with your hand.
4. 4Keep the pressure on – Keep up the pressure without interruption.
5. 5Bandage, if learned – If you have learned to apply a pressure bandage on a course, you can use it to maintain the pressure.
6. 6Lie down and keep warm – Have the person lie down, cover them and protect them from ground cold.

Danger: With heavy bleeding call the emergency number at once or have it called (112 in the EU). Pallor, cold sweat, restlessness, confusion or increasing drowsiness are warning signs.

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1. 1Find the tick – After being outdoors, check the whole body, especially the backs of the knees, groin, armpits, navel, behind the ears and – in children …
2. 2Grip close to the skin – Place the tick tweezers, tick card or fine-tipped tweezers as close to the skin as possible, i.e. at the tick's head, not its body.
3. 3Pull out slowly – Pull the tick slowly and steadily out of the skin without jerking and without squeezing its body.
4. 4Disinfect – Treat the bite site with skin disinfectant and wash your hands.
5. 5Note the date – Note the date and body site and take a photo if possible.
6. 6Watch for weeks – Check the site again and again for several weeks.

Danger: Severe headache with fever and a stiff neck, confusion, paralysis or altered consciousness after a tick bite are an emergency: call the emergency number (112 in the EU, in Austria also 144).

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1. 1Stop the heat – Remove the heat source or move the person out of the danger zone if you can do so without endangering yourself.
2. 2Remove hot, wet clothing – With scalds, carefully remove clothing soaked in hot liquid at once.
3. 3Assess size and location – If the burn is bigger than roughly the palm of the affected person's hand, is on the face, hands, feet, joints or genital area, if a child…
4. 4Briefly cool small burns – Hold small burns under lukewarm to cool, not ice-cold, tap water for a few minutes.
5. 5Cover with a sterile dressing – Cover the wound loosely with a sterile dressing or a dressing sheet, without pressure and without ointments.
6. 6Keep warm and look after them – With larger burns cover the person (for example with an emergency blanket), reassure and observe them.

Danger: Call the emergency number (112 in the EU, in Austria also 144) with large burns (bigger than roughly the palm of the affected person's hand), with burns to the face, hands, feet, joints or genital area, with children and older people, with electrical or chemical accidents and if hot smoke or steam has been inhaled.

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1. 1P – Pause (rest) – Stop the activity at once: sit or lie down and do not keep moving the injured joint.
2. 2Rule out a serious injury – Look for deformity, open wounds, very severe pain, numbness or cold, pale fingers or toes.
3. 3E – Eis (ice / cool) – Apply a cold pack, ice in a bag or a cloth soaked in cold water – always with a cloth between the cold and the skin.
4. 4C – Compression – If you have learned how, apply an elastic bandage with gentle, even pressure.
5. 5H – Hochlagern (elevate) – Raise the injured arm or leg comfortably, ideally above heart level, for example on a backpack or cushion.
6. 6Get it checked – See a doctor if the joint cannot bear weight, the swelling is severe, the pain does not clearly ease after a few days or there is doubt…

Danger: Deformity, protruding bone, very severe pain, numbness, cold or pale fingers or toes, or a fall from a great height: suspected serious injury. Do not move or straighten the limb, leave it in the position found and call the emergency number (112 in the EU, in Austria also 144).

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1. 1Move away from the insects – Calmly move away from the nest or swarm; do not flail.
2. 2Remove the sting – If a bee sting is stuck in the skin, quickly scrape it out sideways with a fingernail or a card or remove it with tweezers.
3. 3Watch for warning signs – Was the person stung in the mouth or throat?
4. 4Cool – With a local reaction, cool the site with a cold, wet cloth or a cold pack wrapped in a cloth.
5. 5Observe – Do not leave the person alone for a while and keep watching, especially after a first sting in children or with a known allergy.

Danger: Breathlessness, hoarseness, swelling of the face, lips or tongue, dizziness, nausea, vomiting or a rash all over the body after a sting: suspected severe allergic reaction. Call the emergency number at once (112 in the EU, in Austria also 144). If the person has their own emergency kit prescribed by a doctor, help them use it as prescribed.

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1. 1Sit, lean forward – Have the person sit upright and lean the head slightly forward.
2. 2Pinch the soft part of the nose – With thumb and index finger, pinch the soft part of the nose below the bony bridge.
3. 3Keep up the pressure – Keep up the pressure for several minutes without interruption and without checking in between.
4. 4Cool the neck – Additionally place a cold, wet cloth or a cold pack wrapped in a cloth on the back of the neck.
5. 5Take it easy afterwards – After the bleeding stops, do not blow or pick the nose and avoid heavy physical exertion for a while.
6. 6Medical help if needed – If it does not stop, is very heavy or occurred after a blow to the head: get medical help or call the emergency number.

Danger: Call the emergency number (112 in the EU, in Austria also 144) if the person becomes pale, cold and sweaty, confused or drowsy, is bleeding after a serious head injury, or clear fluid runs from the nose or ears.

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1. 1Recognise the signs – Look for pallor, cold and clammy skin, cold sweat on the forehead, shivering, restlessness, anxiety, thirst and a fast pulse.
2. 2Call – Call the emergency number or have it called (112 in the EU) and say what happened and which signs you see.
3. 3Tackle the cause – Treat the cause where possible: stop heavy bleeding with direct pressure, cover burns.
4. 4Lay down – Lay the person flat.
5. 5Cover – Insulate from the ground and cover the person, for example with an emergency blanket.
6. 6Reassure and monitor – Stay with the person, talk to them calmly, give nothing to drink and monitor consciousness and breathing.

Danger: With signs of shock always call the emergency number at once (112 in the EU, in Austria also 144). Shock can worsen rapidly, even if the person is still talking at first.

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1. 1Ask: "Are you choking?" – If the person can answer, cough and breathe, the airway is only partly blocked.
2. 2Call if coughing fails – If the cough becomes weak or the person can no longer speak, cough or breathe: call the emergency number or have it called and carry on at…
3. 3Up to 5 back blows – Stand beside the person, support their chest with one hand and lean their upper body forward.
4. 4Up to 5 abdominal thrusts – If that does not help: stand behind the person, put both arms around their upper abdomen, place a fist between the navel and the bottom of…
5. 5Alternate – If the object is still not out, keep alternating 5 back blows and 5 abdominal thrusts until it comes loose, the person breathes again or…
6. 6Unconscious: resuscitation – If the person becomes unconscious, lower them carefully to the ground, make sure the emergency number has been called and start chest…
7. 7Medical check afterwards – If abdominal thrusts were used or coughing, pain or breathing problems remain, the person must be examined by a doctor.

Danger: If the person can no longer cough effectively, speak or breathe, it is an emergency: call the emergency number or have it called (112 in the EU, in Austria also 144) and start back blows at the same time.

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1. 1Protect yourself – If gas is suspected, do not enter the room; wear gloves with chemicals.
2. 2Check the condition – Is the person alert and responsive, are they breathing normally?
3. 3Call the poison centre – If the person is well, call the poison centre (Austria 01 406 43 43, Germany for example the Berlin poison centre 030 19240, Switzerland…
4. 4Have the details ready – What was taken (product name, plant, medication)?
5. 5Bring packaging and remains – Keep the packaging, package leaflet, plant parts or remains and hand them to the ambulance crew or take them to hospital.
6. 6Look after them – Do not induce vomiting, give nothing to drink unless the poison centre advises it. Stay with the person.

Danger: Call the emergency number (112 in the EU, in Austria also 144) with altered consciousness, drowsiness, confusion, breathing difficulty, a seizure, severe pain, vomiting blood or if the person is no longer breathing normally.

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1. 1Stay calm, time it – Look at the time when the seizure begins.
2. 2Make the surroundings safe – Clear away hard and sharp objects and keep the person away from stairs, road or water as far as possible without restraining them.
3. 3Protect the head – Put something soft such as a jacket or blanket under the head.
4. 4Do not restrain, nothing in the mouth – Do not suppress the jerking and do not push anything between the teeth.
5. 5Call if needed – Call the emergency number with a first seizure, after more than 5 minutes, with injuries, in water, in pregnancy or when unsure.
6. 6After the seizure: check breathing – When the jerking has stopped, check breathing.
7. 7Look after them – Stay until the person is fully clear again, calmly explain what happened, shield them from onlookers and cover them.

Danger: Call the emergency number (112 in the EU, in Austria also 144): with a first seizure, if the seizure lasts longer than 5 minutes, if several seizures follow without the person coming round in between, with injuries, with a seizure in water, in pregnancy, with breathing problems after the seizure or if the person does not wake up normally. When in doubt, always.

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1. 1Recognise heart attack signs – Persistent pain, pressure, burning or tightness in the chest, often spreading to the arm, neck, jaw, back or upper abdomen; breathlessness…
2. 2Stroke: the FAST test – Face – ask the person to smile: does one corner of the mouth droop?
3. 3Call at once – Call the emergency number (112 in the EU) and state the suspicion.
4. 4Position – If a heart attack is suspected, let the person sit or half-lie comfortably with the upper body raised, loosen tight clothing and avoid any…
5. 5Reassure and monitor – Stay with the person, speak calmly, cover them and monitor consciousness and breathing.
6. 6Unconscious: act – If the person does not respond and breathes normally: recovery position.

Danger: Call the emergency number at the first suspicion (112 in the EU, in Austria also 144) and say "suspected heart attack" or "suspected stroke". Even if the signs disappear again, it is an emergency.

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1. 1Recognise the signs – Look for shivering, cold and pale skin, clumsiness, stumbling, apathy and declining concentration.
2. 2Call for help – With warning signs, injury or if the person cannot get to warmth on their own, call the emergency number immediately (112 in the EU).
3. 3Shelter from wind and wet – Move them into a building, vehicle or a sheltered spot – in severe hypothermia carry them gently rather than letting them walk.
4. 4Insulate from the ground – Put a sleeping mat, backpack, clothing or branches underneath the person.
5. 5Replace wet clothing – In shelter carefully remove wet clothing and replace it with dry clothing without moving the person much.
6. 6Wrap up, cover the head – Wrap in blankets or a sleeping bag, cover head and neck and add an emergency blanket or plastic sheet on the outside as a wind and vapour…
7. 7Add heat gently – Place heat sources such as hot-water bottles or heat packs wrapped in cloth on the chest, armpits and back, never directly on the skin.
8. 8Monitor and stay – Stay with the person, monitor consciousness and breathing and report changes to the dispatcher.

Danger: Confusion, slurred speech, marked drowsiness, unconsciousness or shivering that stops despite the cold point to severe hypothermia: call the emergency number at once (112 in the EU), handle the person very gently and preferably lying down, do not let them walk.

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1. 1Stop the exertion – Stop the activity immediately and move the person into shade or a cool room.
2. 2Assess the condition – Is the person awake, clear and oriented?
3. 3Lie down, loosen clothing – Have them lie down, loosen or remove excess and tight clothing.
4. 4Cool – Wet the skin with cool water and fan; place wet cloths or cold packs (wrapped in cloth) on the neck, armpits and groin.
5. 5Drink if alert – Let alert people drink water or an electrolyte drink in small sips.
6. 6Monitor – If heat exhaustion does not improve quickly or the condition worsens, call the emergency number.

Danger: Confusion, unusual behaviour, staggering, a seizure or unconsciousness in the heat: suspected heatstroke – call the emergency number at once (112 in the EU) and start cooling at once. The skin can be hot and dry, but can also still be wet with sweat.

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1. 1Into the shade – Get out of the sun into the shade or a cool room at once.
2. 2Assess the condition – Is the person alert, clear and oriented?
3. 3Sunstroke: lie with head raised – With sunstroke, lay the person down with the head and upper body slightly raised and loosen tight clothing.
4. 4Cool – Cool the head and neck with damp, cool cloths.
5. 5Drink if alert – Let alert people who can swallow safely drink water in small sips.
6. 6Monitor and rest – Stay with the person; if they get worse, call the emergency number.

Danger: Confusion, altered consciousness, a seizure, repeated vomiting or a markedly stiff neck with fever: call the emergency number at once (112 in the EU, in Austria also 144).

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1. 1Recognise the signs – Look for white, greyish-yellow or blotchy skin that feels hard or waxy and is numb, especially on the fingers, toes, nose, ears and cheeks.
2. 2Consider the whole body – Check whether the person is hypothermic (heavy shivering, confusion, drowsiness).
3. 3Into the warm – Move to a sheltered, warm place.
4. 4Rewarm with body heat – Only if there is no risk of refreezing: put affected hands in your own armpits, place feet against a helper's stomach or cover the area…
5. 5Protect and do not load – Cover the area loosely and keep it dry, do not open blisters.
6. 6Medical help – Have any frostbite that does not fully return to normal colour and sensation after a short time treated by a doctor.

Danger: Think of hypothermia first: if the person is shivering hard, is confused, drowsy, or shivering stops despite the cold, treating hypothermia takes priority. Call the emergency number (112 in the EU, in Austria also 144).

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1. 1Basic contents – Disposable gloves (several pairs), sterile dressings in various sizes, wound dressing packs, gauze or elastic roller bandages, plasters…
2. 2Useful additions – Tweezers, instant cold pack, hand sanitiser, notepad and pen, torch.
3. 3Add information – Card with emergency numbers (local emergency number, 112 in the EU), your country's poison control line, family doctor and emergency…
4. 4Personal medication – Keep regular medication and anything doctors have prescribed for specific people (for example for severe allergies) within reach.
5. 5Store – Dry, cool, quick for adults to reach, medication out of children's reach.
6. 6Check and restock – Restock after every use and check expiry dates and completeness at least once a year.
7. 7Take a course – Take a first-aid course and refresh it regularly – only then does the kit become truly useful.

Caution: This text does not replace a first-aid course. First aid is learned through hands-on practice under instruction. In an emergency always call professional help – via the local emergency number (112 in the EU) – and follow the dispatcher's instructions.

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