Title: Introduction to First Aid & Emergency Response
Type: Lesson
First aid is the immediate care given to an injured or ill person before professional medical help arrives. It’s not meant to replace medical treatment — it’s meant to:
Preserve life
Prevent the condition from worsening
Promote recovery
You don’t need to be a doctor to make a difference. In a medical emergency, your role is to:
Recognize an emergency
Stay calm and act quickly
Call for help (EMS)
Provide basic care within your training
Protect yourself and the victim from further harm
You could save a life by simply starting CPR or controlling severe bleeding until EMS arrives.
In cardiac and other medical emergencies, survival often depends on the Chain of Survival:
Recognize the emergency and call 911
Begin CPR immediately
Use an AED if available
Advanced care by EMS
Post-care in a hospital
Each step must happen as fast as possible to improve chances of survival.
Call emergency services immediately if someone is:
Unconscious or not breathing
Bleeding heavily
Having chest pain or signs of a stroke
Choking and unable to speak or cough
Severely burned or electrocuted
Seizing, or experiencing heatstroke or allergic reaction
Call first, then care — unless you’re alone with a child/infant in cardiac arrest.
In a crisis, your knowledge and quick response can be the difference between life and death. You are the bridge between the injury and professional care.
Click “Mark Complete” to continue to Lesson 2: Hands-Only CPR – Adult, Child, Infant, where you’ll learn how to provide effective chest compressions and when to use rescue breaths.