Medical Basics & First Aid
Choking, severe bleeding, stroke, heart attack, hypothermia, and immediate life support.
Allergy Escalating Rather Quickly
“Inject epinephrine into the outer thigh immediately, call 911/112, keep the person lying flat, and never let them stand up.”
INJECT EPINEPHRINE (ADRENALINE) IMMEDIATELY: If the person has a prescribed auto-injector (EpiPen, Jext, Auvi-Q), use it immediately at the first sign of airway swelling, breathing difficulty, or dizziness.
Asthma Inhaler Noticeably Not Doing the Job
“Sit upright, take 4–10 puffs of rescue inhaler (1 at a time), and call 911/112 immediately if words cannot be spoken.”
ADOPT TRIPOD POSITION (KUTSCHERSITZ): Sit upright leaning forward with hands or elbows braced against knees to mobilize accessory respiratory muscles.
Bleeding More Than Is Generally Recommended
“Press hard with both hands directly on the wound; for catastrophic limb bleeds, apply a tourniquet high and tight.”
APPLY DIRECT UNRELENTING PRESSURE: Firm, continuous pressure is the primary tool to stop external hemorrhage:
Blood Sugar Has Left the Chat
“Give 15g fast sugar ONLY if fully awake and swallowing; never pour liquids into a drowsy or unconscious mouth.”
ASSESS CONSCIOUSNESS & SWALLOWING REFLEX: Determine if the person can safely swallow without risk of fatal aspiration:
Body Part Pointing in a New and Unapproved Direction
“Immobilize in the position found, never try to snap bones or joints back in place, and check distal pulses.”
IMMOBILIZE IN FOUND POSITION: Support and splint the injured limb in the exact position found. Never attempt amateur bone or joint realignment.
Chest Feeling Unreasonably Heavy
“Call 911/112 immediately, sit upright with back supported, enforce absolute rest, and locate an AED.”
CALL 911 / 112 IMMEDIATELY: Report suspected acute coronary syndrome (heart attack) and put dispatch on speakerphone.
Eye Recently Contacted by Angry Chemical
“Flush with clean running water for 20 minutes with eyelids held wide open, never neutralize, and call 911/112.”
FLUSH EYE IMMEDIATELY WITH RUNNING WATER (15–20 MIN): Every second counts. Hold eyelids open and flush eye under gently running tap water or saline for 15 to 20 continuous minutes from inner corner outwards.
Face Doing Something Weird on One Side
“Check Face, Arms, and Speech; note the exact time, and call emergency dispatch immediately.”
PERFORM FAST STROKE ASSESSMENT: Quickly evaluate the four critical stroke criteria:
Head Recently Met Something Solid
“Hold the head still in line, watch for red flags (vomiting, amnesia, pupil changes), and prioritize clear airway over spinal stillness.”
IMMOBILIZE CERVICAL SPINE & RESTRICT MOVEMENT: Keep head, neck, and spine aligned in a neutral position. Avoid turning or tilting the neck.
Open Chest Wound Making an Unsettling Sucking Sound
“Wipe blood, apply a vented chest seal (or leave uncovered if none available), and burp the dressing immediately if breathing worsens.”
EXPOSE AND SEAL WOUND IMMEDIATELY: Quickly expose puncture wound and cover immediately with a gloved hand during exhale.
Person, Currently Choking
“If they can cough, encourage coughing; if they cannot breathe or speak, alternate 5 back blows and 5 abdominal thrusts.”
ASSESS SEVERITY AND ENCOURAGE COUGHING: Determine if the airway obstruction is mild or severe:
Person Currently Having a Seizure
“Protect the head, time the duration, never put anything in the mouth, and turn onto the side once shaking stops.”
PROTECT FROM TRAUMA & CLEAR AREA: Move sharp, hard, or dangerous objects away from the convulsing person and place a soft jacket under their head.
Person Looking Alarmingly Pale After Something Bad Happened
“Lay flat with legs raised 20–30 cm (if no head/spine trauma), wrap in warm blankets, give zero fluids, and call 911/112.”
CALL 911 / 112 & IDENTIFY SHOCK CAUSE: Report severe circulatory shock and immediately address triggers (e.g. compress external bleeding, remove allergen).
Person No Longer Breathing for Some Reason
“Call 911/112, push hard and fast in the center of the chest (100–120 bpm, 5–6 cm deep), and use an AED immediately.”
CHECK RESPONSIVENESS AND BREATHING (10 SEC MAX): Quickly assess for responsiveness and normal breathing:
Person Unconscious but Inconveniently Still Breathing
“Turn them onto their side with head tilted back and mouth facing down, and check breathing every 60 seconds.”
VERIFY UNRESPONSIVENESS & NORMAL BREATHING: Gently shake shoulders, shout loudly, and tilt head back to check breathing for up to 10 seconds.
Skin Recently Introduced to Too Much Heat
“Cool with running tap water for 20 minutes, remove jewellery immediately, cover loosely with cling film, and never apply ice or butter.”
STOP THE BURNING PROCESS IMMEDIATELY: Extinguish flames, disconnect from heat/electricity, and remove non-adherent hot clothing and metallic jewelry.
Skin Recently Perforated by Hypodermic Needle
“Wash under running water with soap, encourage free bleeding without squeezing, and seek hospital PEP within 2 to 72 hours.”
ENCOURAGE SPONTANEOUS BLEEDING UNDER WATER: Rinse puncture site with running water and gentle soap, allowing blood to flow freely without aggressive tissue squeezing.
Something Important Is No Longer Attached
“Stop catastrophic bleeding first with a tourniquet/pressure, wrap the amputated part dry, seal it in a bag, and place the bag in ice water.”
CONTROL LIFE-THREATENING BLEEDING FIRST: Apply direct pressure, pack wound, or place a windlass tourniquet 5–7 cm proximal on the stump.
Something Is Stuck in a Person
“Never pull out an impaled object; build a bulky donut bandage around it to stabilize it in place, and call 911/112.”
NEVER REMOVE THE IMPALED OBJECT: The object acts as an internal biological plug tamponading lacerated major blood vessels. Removal causes fatal hemorrhage.
Sudden Crushing Headache Like Thunder
“A headache hitting maximum 10/10 agony within 60 seconds is a subarachnoid hemorrhage until proven otherwise: call 911/112 immediately.”
CALL 911 / 112 IMMEDIATELY: Report sudden onset thunderclap headache reaching maximum severity within seconds (suspected subarachnoid hemorrhage).
Tooth Violently Evicted from Mouth
“Touch only the white crown, rinse gently without scrubbing, store in cold milk, and see a dentist in under 60 minutes.”
HANDLE TOOTH BY CROWN ONLY (NEVER TOUCH ROOT): Touch only the enamel chewing surface. The root is lined with living periodontal ligament cells essential for replantation.