Unresponsive and abnormal breathing (adolescent and adult)Immediately start chest compressions and access emergency medical services. Save this page as a PDF If a person’s heart is unable to pump enough blood around the body, then this person is in cardiac arrest. The person...
Unresponsive and breathing normallyMaintain an open airway so the person can continue to breathe normally. Save this page as a PDF An unresponsive and breathing person has normal, regular breathing, but does not respond to any sound or touch from another person. A person may become unresponsive...
Oxygen administrationUntil emergency medical care is available, give supplementary oxygen in circumstances defined below, if specifically trained to do so. Save this page as a PDF Giving oxygen to a person with a severe illness or injury is generally accepted practice, although there is no...
Medication administration If the ill or injured person has prescribed medication which will help their condition, the first aid provider can assist them to take it, if local regulations allow. Save this page as a PDF Generally, a first aid provider is not authorised to prescribe or give...
De-escalation techniques for violent behaviourCreate a safe environment and relationship for and between the ill or injured person and any bystanders. Save this page as a PDF When dealing with emergencies, first aid providers may encounter people experiencing psychological trauma who require care...
Hand hygieneUse soap and water to wash your hands. Save this page as a PDF Good hand hygiene is an important measure to stop the spread of germs which may cause people to get sick. The Global Handwashing Partnership estimates that inadequate hand hygiene results in nearly 300,000 deaths each year,...
General approachProvide help while maintaining your safety, as well as the safety of the ill or injured person and any bystanders. Save this page as a PDF The actions of the first person on the scene of a first aid emergency are critical. While providing first aid is important, it is only one...
CroupHelp the child to rest in a comfortable position which allows them to breathe easily. Save this page as a PDF Croup is breathing difficulty, more often seen in young children, usually triggered by a viral infection in the upper airways (larynx). The infection causes the throat and upper...
Asthma attackHelp the person to sit in a comfortable position and ask them to use their inhaler. Save this page as a PDF Asthma is a chronic illness of the airways in the lungs. When an attack occurs, the airways in the lungs swell, narrow and produce extra mucus, making it difficult to...
ChokingDislodge the obstruction in the person’s throat so they can breathe. Save this page as a PDF Choking occurs when the airway is partially or completely blocked by a foreign body, such as a piece of food or an object (a magnet or small toy). Choking is also referred to as a foreign body...
Breathing difficultiesHelp the person get into a comfortable position (usually seated). A person with breathing difficulty may complain of tightness in the chest or feeling suffocated; they may have very rapid or noisy breathing, or perhaps struggle to inhale. The most important causes that may...
