First Aid Checklist

Choking — adult or child who cannot breathe, cough or speak

1. If the person is coughing strongly, encourage them to keep coughing. Do not hit their back yet.
2. If they cannot breathe, cough or speak, call 1122 (or your local emergency number).
3. Stand behind the person and wrap your arms around their waist.
4. Make a fist with one hand and place it just above the belly button. Hold it with your other hand.
5. Give quick inward and upward thrusts, as if trying to lift the person. For a child, use the same motion but with less force.
6. Repeat until the object comes out or emergency help takes over. If the person becomes unresponsive, start CPR.

For babies under 1 year the steps are different — get trained help or call the emergency number and follow their instructions.

Severe bleeding

1. Call 1122 (or your local emergency number) right away.
2. Press firmly on the wound with a clean cloth, bandage or your hand. Do not lift it to check — add more cloth on top if it soaks through.
3. If there is an object stuck in the wound, do NOT pull it out. Press around it.
4. If possible, raise the injured area above the level of the heart to slow the bleeding.
5. Keep the person still and lying down. Cover them to keep warm and stay with them until help arrives.

Burns

1. Move the person away from the heat source. Stop the burning: put out flames, turn off the heat.
2. Cool the burn under cool running water for at least 20 minutes. Do not use ice.
3. Remove rings, watches or loose clothing near the burn — but do NOT pull off clothing stuck to the skin.
4. Cover the burn loosely with a clean, non-fluffy cloth or cling film laid flat over it.
5. Do NOT apply toothpaste, butter, oil or cotton wool to the burn.
6. Get medical help for large burns, burns on the face, hands, feet or joints, or any burn that looks deep (white or charred skin). Call 1122 for serious burns.

Fracture (broken bone) or sprain

1. Do not move the person if you suspect a head, neck or back injury — call 1122 and wait for professionals.
2. Keep the injured area still. Do not try to straighten a bent or deformed limb.
3. Support the injury with a rolled blanket, pillow or a makeshift splint tied gently above and below the injury.
4. For a sprain or closed injury, wrap ice or something cold in a cloth and hold it on the area for up to 15 minutes to reduce swelling.
5. Remove rings or tight items near the injury in case of swelling.
6. Get medical help — go to the nearest emergency department if the pain is severe, the limb looks deformed, or the person cannot use it.

Nosebleed

1. Sit the person upright and lean them slightly forward so blood does not go down the throat.
2. Pinch the soft part of the nose, just below the bony bridge, and hold without releasing.
3. Keep pinching for 10 to 15 minutes without checking early.
4. Spit out any blood in the mouth — swallowing it can cause nausea.
5. After it stops, avoid blowing the nose, bending over or heavy activity for the rest of the day.
6. Seek medical help if the bleeding does not stop after 20 to 30 minutes, or if nosebleeds happen often.

Fainting

1. Help the person lie down flat on their back on the floor.
2. Raise their legs about 30 cm (a foot) to help blood flow to the brain.
3. Loosen tight clothing around the neck and waist. Let fresh air reach them.
4. When they wake, do not let them stand up quickly — let them sit up slowly and rest.
5. Give small sips of water once they are fully alert.
6. Call 1122 if the person does not wake within a minute, has trouble breathing, was injured in the fall, or faints repeatedly.

Insect sting / allergic reaction

1. Move the person away from the insects to a safe area.
2. If a stinger is visible, scrape it off sideways with a fingernail or card. Do not squeeze it with tweezers.
3. Wash the area with soap and water.
4. Apply a cold cloth or ice wrapped in cloth for 10 minutes to reduce pain and swelling.
5. Watch for signs of a severe allergic reaction: trouble breathing, swelling of the face, lips or tongue, dizziness or fainting.
6. If any severe signs appear, call 1122 immediately. If the person has an allergy injection (adrenaline auto-injector), help them use it as trained.