First Aid Basics: When to Call 911, Treating Cuts, and What to Keep in a Kit

Accidents happen: someone chokes, is stung by a bee, sprains an ankle, or gets a small burn or cut while cooking. First aid is the care you give right away for an injury or sudden illness, before medical help arrives. Knowing the basics — and when to call 911 — helps you stay calm and act fast.

When to call 911

Call 911 right away for life-threatening emergencies — for example, when someone collapses, can’t breathe or is unresponsive. While you wait, you may be able to save a life:

A CPR or first aid class gives you hands-on practice with these skills and with common injuries.

Common injuries

Cuts and scrapes

1. Rinse the area with clean water.
2. Press firmly and steadily with gauze to stop the bleeding.
3. If blood soaks through, add more gauze on top — don’t remove the first layer — and keep pressing.
4. Get medical care if bleeding hasn’t stopped after 10 minutes of firm pressure, or if the wound is deep, gaping, or caused by a dirty or rusty object.

Poisoning

If someone swallows something dangerous, call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222. They can help you decide what to do, including whether to call 911 or go to the emergency room.

Heat-related illness

Learn to recognize heat-related illness and other common emergencies before they become serious.

A basic first aid kit

Keep a kit at home and in your car. Kits come in many sizes, and some are made for travel, workplaces or sports. You can build your own and add personal items such as emergency phone numbers or medicines. A basic kit should include:

• adhesive bandages
• sterile gauze pads
• adhesive tape
• antiseptic wipes
• disposable gloves
• scissors
• a first aid guide, so you know how to use each item

Check the kit regularly and replace anything that has expired.

Sources

Based on "First Aid," MedlinePlus, U.S. National Library of Medicine; a work of the United States government in the public domain.