Life-Threatening First Aid Emergencies

Cardiac arrest and CPR

A person who is unresponsive and is not breathing normally, or is only gasping, may be in cardiac arrest. Do not delay CPR while searching for a pulse if you are a lay responder.

1. Call 911 or direct someone else to call, and send for an AED.
2. Place the person on a firm, flat surface and begin chest compressions in the center of the chest at a rate of 100 to 120 per minute.
3. For adults and children, push hard and allow the chest to fully recoil after each compression. Follow your current CPR training for the correct depth and hand position for the person's age and size.
4. If trained and willing to provide breaths, give cycles of 30 compressions and 2 breaths for a single rescuer. Give only enough air to make the chest rise.
5. Use the AED as soon as it arrives. Turn it on, follow its prompts, and resume CPR immediately after a shock or a no-shock instruction.
6. Continue until the person shows obvious signs of life, trained responders take over, the scene becomes unsafe, or you are physically unable to continue.

Choking

A person with a mild airway blockage may still be able to cough or speak. Encourage coughing and watch closely. A severe blockage may prevent speech, effective coughing, or breathing.

• For a conscious adult or child with severe choking, alternate 5 back blows with 5 abdominal thrusts until the object comes out or the person becomes unresponsive.
• For an infant, alternate 5 back blows with 5 chest thrusts. Do not use abdominal thrusts on an infant.
• For a pregnant person or someone whose body size prevents effective abdominal thrusts, use chest thrusts.
• If the person becomes unresponsive, lower them safely, activate emergency response if not already done, and begin CPR. Look for a visible object in the mouth before breaths; do not perform blind finger sweeps.

Life-threatening bleeding

Life-threatening bleeding may pool on the ground, flow rapidly, spurt, soak through dressings, or continue despite firm pressure. A person may become pale, weak, confused, dizzy, or unresponsive.

1. Call 911 or direct someone to call. Put on gloves if available.
2. Expose the wound and apply firm, continuous direct pressure with gauze, cloth, or your gloved hand.
3. If the wound is deep and in a location that can be packed, a trained responder may firmly pack it with gauze or a hemostatic dressing and maintain pressure.
4. For life-threatening bleeding from an arm or leg that is not controlled quickly with direct pressure, apply a commercial tourniquet according to training and manufacturer instructions. Tighten until bleeding stops, record the time, and do not loosen or remove it while awaiting EMS.

Heart attack and stroke warning signs

Call 911 for suspected heart attack or stroke. Heart attack symptoms can include chest pressure or discomfort, pain spreading to an arm, back, neck, jaw, or stomach, shortness of breath, nausea, unusual sweating, or weakness. Stroke may cause sudden face drooping, arm weakness, speech difficulty, vision changes, balance problems, or a severe headache. Note the time symptoms began or the last time the person was known to be well.

Poisoning

• If the person collapses, has a seizure, has trouble breathing, or cannot be awakened, call 911 immediately.
• In the United States, Poison Control can be reached at 1-800-222-1222 for immediate guidance when the person is stable enough for consultation.
• Move away from the source only when it is safe. For skin or eye exposure, begin decontamination as directed by the product label or Poison Control.
• Do not make the person vomit and do not give food, drink, or medication unless a medical professional or Poison Control tells you to do so.
• Keep the container, label, plant sample, or other information about the substance available for responders when it can be done safely.