Basic first aid tips save lives. Every year, thousands of Australians find themselves in situations where someone nearby needs urgent help. In the critical first minutes before an ambulance arrives, your actions can mean the difference between life and death.
First aid is the steps taken to keep a person safe while waiting for professional help to arrive. When someone is in need, always call 000 first. You do not need to be a healthcare professional to save a life.
Items to Keep in Your First Aid Kit
The first first aid tip is that a well-stocked first aid kit is essential for every home, and workplace. It should be kept in a dry, cool location where everyone knows to find it, and regularly checked to replace used items and ensure nothing has passed its expiry date. A basic first aid kit should contain:
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Adhesive strips (bandaids)
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Sterile gauze pads and non-adhesive dressings
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Crepe bandages
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Triangular bandages for slings
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Adhesive tape
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Disposable gloves
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Scissors and tweezers
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Antiseptic wipes and saline solution
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Instant cold packs
CPR & the DRSABCD Action Plan
The most important first aid tip, DRSABCD guides you through the crucial steps when providing first aid, ensuring you do not miss anything important when every second counts.
D is for Danger. Before you do anything else, check for hazards. Look for dangers to yourself, any bystanders, and the injured person. You cannot help anyone if you become a casualty yourself.
R is for Response. Ask the injured name loudly and squeeze their shoulders firmly. If there is no response they are unconscious and need further help.
S is for Send for help. Call triple zero (000) for an ambulance or ask a bystander to make the call. Stay on the line and answer all the questions the operator asks.
A is for Airway. Tilt the person’s head and chin back to open their mouth and check for obstructions such as loose teeth, food, or vomit, and remove them with your fingers. If you can’t see anything blocking the airway but think something is there do not perform a blind sweep as this can push blockages deeper.
B is for Breathing. Look for normal breathing patterns such as chest movements, listen near their mouth and nose, and feel for breath on your cheek.
C is for CPR. If the person is not breathing normally, begin cardiopulmonary resuscitation immediately. Place the heel of one hand in the centre of their chest, put your other hand on top, and interlock your fingers. Press down firmly, compressing the chest by at least 5cm in adults, at a rate of 1 to 2 compressions per seconds. After 30 chest compressions, give two rescue breaths by tilting their head back, pinching their nose closed, and blowing firmly into their mouth. Continue the cycle of 30 compressions and two breaths until the ambulance arrives or the person recovers.
D is for Defibrillation. In instances of cardiac arrest, use an automated external defibrillator (AED). Just turn it on and follow the voice prompts and pictures. The machine will analyse the heart rhythm and deliver a shock if needed.
The Recovery Position
The recovery position is used for anyone who is unconscious but breathing normally. You might need to use it after someone has a seizure or following a suspected overdose. To put someone in the recovery position:
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Kneel beside the person while they are on their back.
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Place the arm furthest from you straight out from their body at a right angle.
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Place their nearest arm across their chest.
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Bend their nearest leg up at the knee, keeping the other leg straight.
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Support the head and neck and gently roll them onto their side, ensuring their head, neck, and spine stay aligned. Roll the body as a unit rather than twisting the spine.
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Adjust the top leg so the knee is bent at a right angle to stabilise their position.
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Tilt their head back slightly to ensure the airway is clear and their mouth is angled slightly downward so fluids can drain.
For infants under one year, hold the baby in your arms with their head tilted downward and their face angled toward the ground. Support their head with your hand while monitoring their breathing.
Asthma and Anaphylaxis
Follow the 4x4x4 method for asthma emergencies. With the person sitting upright:
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Give them 4 separate puffs of a reliever puffer. Shake the puffer, give one puff into a spacer, and have the person take 4 breaths from the spacer before repeating. Continue until 4 puffs have been given.
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Wait 4 minutes. If there is no improvement, give 4 more puffs in the same way.
Anaphylaxis is a severe allergic reaction that requires immediate treatment with adrenaline. Signs of anaphylaxis include difficulty breathing, swelling of the tongue or throat, a hoarse voice, persistent dizziness, and pale or floppy appearance (especially in young children).
To respond to anaphylaxis:
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Lay the person flat on their back.
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Give their adrenaline autoinjector (such as an EpiPen) if available. Form a fist around the device, pull off the blue safety release, place the orange end firmly against the outer mid-thigh, and push down hard until you hear a click. Hold for 3 seconds, then remove.
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If there is no improvement after 5 minutes, give a second adrenaline autoinjector if one is available.
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Stay with the person and monitor their condition until the ambulance arrives. Be prepared to begin CPR if they become unresponsive and stop breathing.
Sprains and Fractures
Soft tissue injuries like sprains and strains, as well as fractures, are common in everyday life. While the RICER protocol was recommended for decades, research shows ice can actually slow healing. Experts now recommend the PEACE & LOVE protocol. PEACE covers the immediate first aid steps while LOVE refers to long term recovery and physiotherapy. PEACE covers:
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P for Protect: Avoid moving the injured area for 1 to 3 days to prevent further damage.
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E for Elevate: Raise the injured limb above heart level to help reduce swelling.
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A for Avoid anti-inflammatory medications: The body’s natural inflammatory response is part of repair. Use pain relief if needed for comfort, but let inflammation take its course.
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C for Compress: Use taping or bandages to limit excessive swelling while still allowing movement.
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E for Educate: Speak to your doctor for advice pertaining to your specific injury and situation.
Fractures are just another word for broken bones. If you suspect a fracture, the priority is to prevent further injury by keeping the limb still. Use a splint or rigid object to support the injured limb in the position you find it. Bandage it firmly in place but not so tightly that circulation is cut off, check the skin below the bandage for changes to warmth, colour, and mobility.
Help in a Medical Emergency: Learn First Aid
Accidents and medical emergencies can happen anywhere at any time. Knowing these basic first aid tips is a great start, but there is no substitute for hands-on practice. Our accredited first aid courses teach you to apply these skills under pressure.
FAQs
What Are the Different Types of Bandages and When Should I Use Them?
There are three main types of bandages. Roller bandages for wrapping wounds and providing compression, triangular bandages for creating slings to support injured arms or shoulders, and tubular bandages for protecting fingers and toes.
Is The Heimlich Manoeuvre Still Recommended for Choking?
The Heimlich manoeuvre is not recommended because it has been associated with serious complications including damage to internal organs. Instead, give up to 5 sharp blows between the shoulder blades, then up to 5 chest thrusts, alternating until the blockage clears or help arrives.
How Can I Identify Suspected Spinal Injuries?
Key warning signs include severe pain in the neck or back, tingling or numbness in the arms or legs, loss of movement below the injury site, and loss of bladder or bowel control.
