First aid is the initial help given to someone who is injured or suddenly ill before professional medical help is available. This guide provides a basic overview of first aid practices.

Common Injuries and Illnesses

Here are some common injuries and illnesses that you might encounter and how to respond:

Cuts and Scrapes

  • Wash the wound with soap and water.
  • Apply an antibiotic ointment.
  • Cover the wound with a sterile bandage.
  • Change the bandage daily.

Bandage

Burns

  • Cool the burn with cool (not cold) water for 10-15 minutes.
  • Remove any constrictive clothing or jewelry.
  • Do not break blisters.
  • Cover the burn with a sterile, non-adhesive bandage.

Burn Treatment

Choking

  • Encourage the person to cough.
  • Perform the Heimlich maneuver if coughing is ineffective.
  • Call emergency services if the person is unable to breathe or if the obstruction is not dislodged.

Heimlich Maneuver

Additional Resources

For more comprehensive first aid training, consider visiting our First Aid Courses page.