Being a first aider

Your duties as a first aider

First aid is based on knowledge, training and expertise. A first aider will have completed a practical training course under the supervision of a recognised first aid organisation.

If you're present at the scene of an accident, or during a medical emergency, you need to go through the following stages:

Assess the situation

• Take control of your feelings, don't act impulsively
• Look for continuing danger, to the casualties and to yourself
• Decide whether to call for emergency help

Assess the casualties

A quiet casualty may be an indication that the person is unconscious. Quiet casualties should always be your first priority.

• Prioritise treatment of casualties according to severity of injury
• Check response by asking casualties whether they are all right
• Check airway
• Check breathing
• If a casualty isn't breathing, ask somebody to call 999 immediately and give 30 chest compressions followed by two rescue breaths
• Continue this sequence until emergency help arrives or the casualty starts to show some response

Further assistance to casualties

• Aim to give all casualties early and effective help
• Arrange for casualties to be taken to hospital where necessary
• Remain with casualty until help arrives
• Prevent cross-infection between yourself and the casualty
• Take care of casualty's possessions and ensure they accompany the casualty to hospital

The British Red Cross last medically reviewed this article in December 2009.