First Aid — Quick Reference

Does not replace a first-aid course. If in doubt, always call 112 (EU-wide; emergency numbers of other countries: see the region box at the top).

Finding a person: procedure

1. Speak to them, touch them ("Hello, can you hear me?")
2. No response → shout loudly for help
3. Check breathing: tilt the head back, lift the chin, look/listen/feel for max. 10 s
4. Breathing normally → recovery position, call 112, keep monitoring breathing
5. Not breathing / breathing abnormally → call 112 + start CPR immediately

CPR (chest compressions)

• Heel of one hand on the centre of the chest, heel of the other hand on top
• 5–6 cm deep, 100–120 per minute (rhythm: "Stayin' Alive")
• 30 compressions : 2 rescue breaths (without rescue breaths: compress continuously)
• Do not stop until the ambulance crew takes over. Use an AED if available — the device gives spoken instructions.

Severe bleeding

1. Disposable gloves (protect yourself)
2. Direct pressure on the wound (sterile cloth/fabric)
3. Pressure bandage: wound dressing → securing bandage → pressure pad → wrap firmly
4. Raise the affected body part, call 112
5. Blood seeping through → apply a second bandage on top, do not remove the first one

Burns

• Small burns: cool with lukewarm water for 10–20 min. (no ice!)
• Large burns (> the casualty's palm): do NOT cool (risk of hypothermia), cover with sterile material, call 112
• Do not open blisters, do not tear off clothing stuck to the skin

Choking

1. Encourage them to cough forcefully
2. Doesn't help: 5 back blows between the shoulder blades (lean the upper body forward)
3. Doesn't help: 5 abdominal thrusts (Heimlich manoeuvre) (fist between navel and ribcage, sharp pull inwards and upwards)
4. Alternate 5/5; if they lose consciousness → CPR, call 112

Stroke — FAST test

• Face: ask them to smile — does one corner of the mouth droop?
• Arms: raise both arms — does one drift down?
• Speech: ask them to repeat a sentence — is it slurred?
• Time: any one sign → call 112 immediately, note the time the symptoms started

Heart attack — signs

Pressure/tightness in the chest (> 5 min.), pain spreading to the arm/jaw/back, shortness of breath, cold sweat, nausea (in women often atypical: upper abdomen, back). → Call 112, keep the upper body raised, loosen tight clothing, do not leave them alone.

Hypothermia

• Shivering, pale skin → move to a warm place, remove wet clothing, blankets, warm sweetened drinks (no alcohol!)
• No longer shivering, reduced consciousness = life-threatening → call 112, do not actively move them, rewarm slowly (torso first)

Poisoning

• Poison control centre/112. Do not induce vomiting. Keep any remains/packaging and hand them over.

Fractures / sprains

• RICE: Rest, Ice (cooling), Compression, Elevation
• Open fracture: cover with sterile material, do not move, call 112