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How to save a life: paramedics on emergency first aid

Would you know how to respond if someone was taken critically ill? Experts explain the basic skills we can all learn and how to perform them with confidence

How to save a life: paramedics on emergency first aid

TL;DR

  • For cardiac arrest, call an ambulance, check for breathing, and perform CPR with 30 compressions and 2 rescue breaths, or continuous compressions if unwilling to do breaths.
  • Use a defibrillator by following its voice prompts; they analyze the heart and advise if a shock is needed.
  • In case of a suspected heart attack, call an ambulance, give 300mg aspirin to chew, and place the person in a resting sitting position.
  • For choking, encourage coughing, then perform up to five back blows followed by up to five abdominal thrusts.
  • For severe bleeding, apply pressure or a tourniquet above the wound, and for severed limbs, wrap them in plastic and keep them cool.
  • In drowning, clear the airway, give five rescue breaths, and start CPR if necessary.
  • For burns, cool the area under cold running water for at least 10-20 minutes, cover with clingfilm or a wet dressing, and do not pop blisters.
  • During a seizure, do not put anything in the person's mouth, protect their head, and place them in the recovery position once it ends.
  • Recognize stroke signs using the FAST mnemonic (Face, Arm, Speech, Time) and call emergency services immediately.
  • For anaphylaxis, call 999, lay the person down, raise their legs, and administer an adrenaline auto-injector if available.