First aid and health
Only per current guidelines, expert-reviewed
Medical content is published only after review by medical professionals against current guidelines. In an emergency: call emergency services.
Basics and emergency call
In an emergency: stay safe, call, get help
First-aid courses teach the first minutes of an emergency in the same order every time: take in the situation, protect yourself and others, call the local emergency number (112 in the EU), have other helpers fetch an AED and stay with the casualty. This text does not replace a first-aid course.
Unresponsive person: check response, check breathing, get an AED
If a person does not respond, every minute counts: speak loudly and touch their shoulders, open the airway, check breathing. If they are not breathing normally, call the local emergency number (112 in the EU) at once, have an AED fetched and start resuscitation as the dispatcher instructs. If they are breathing normally, place them in the recovery position. This text does not replace a first-aid course.
Recovery position
A person who does not respond but is breathing normally is placed in the recovery position: this keeps the airway open and lets vomit or blood drain from the mouth. Then call the emergency number (112 in the EU) and keep checking breathing. This text does not replace a first-aid course.
Planned topics (4)
- Emergency call
- Assessing danger
- Unconsciousness
- CPR
Injuries
Planned topics (5)
- Bleeding
- Injuries
- Burns
- Snake and insect encounters
- Allergic emergencies
Environmental emergencies
Recognising hypothermia and rewarming gently
Hypothermia often develops gradually – in the cold, but also in wet and windy conditions on cool days. Early signs are shivering, clumsiness and declining concentration; confusion, drowsiness or shivering that stops while the person is still cold are warning signs. Protect from further cooling, insulate, handle gently and call the emergency number (112 in the EU). This text does not replace a first-aid course.
Recognising heat exhaustion and heatstroke and cooling
In heat and with exertion the body can overheat. Heat exhaustion shows as weakness, dizziness, headache, nausea and heavy sweating; confusion, unusual behaviour, a seizure or unconsciousness point to life-threatening heatstroke. Then call the emergency number at once (112 in the EU) and cool with every means available. This text does not replace a first-aid course.
Planned topics (4)
- Hypothermia
- Heat illness
- Dehydration
- Altitude sickness
Prevention and mind
Planned topics (6)
- Infection prevention
- Hygiene
- First-aid kit
- Medication when travelling
- Psychological first aid
- Evacuation and rescue