First aid is a life skill and you can never know when your first aid skills might be needed – emergencies rarely come with a warning. Here you can find first aid protocols for the most common medical emergencies. Timely first aid can save a life and dramatically improve the prognosis for recovery.
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Resuscitation should be performed if the person’s heart has stopped.
Asthma attacks are caused by bronchoconstriction – the tightening of the muscles around the airways, which reduces air flow in the lungs and makes breathing difficult.
Chest pain is a serious symptom, which is most often brought on by coronary heart disease.
For small children and babies, always start resuscitation with five rescue breaths.
A person is said to be unconscious when he or she cannot be woken up but is breathing normally.
The number-one priority with burns is to quickly stop further tissue damage.
Diligent wound care helps the skin to heal, prevents infections and reduces scarring.
The goal with heavy bleeding is to stop the bleeding as fast as possible by applying pressure on the wound.
Low blood sugar can be life-threatening for a diabetic.
The objective of psychological first aid is to calm the person down and to give comfort and support.
A foreign object blocking the airways constitutes a choking hazard.
Anaphylactic reaction (anaphylaxis) is a life-threatening allergic reaction that can develop in a matter of minutes.
A stroke is always a medical emergency and requires immediate treatment.
The better prepared you are for situations where first aid may be required, the easier it will be for you to take the correct actions.