Red Cross First Aid Tips

The Red Cross offers a wealth of resources that provide essential first aid information to individuals and professionals. First aid tips cover different areas from cardiac failure to choking and children. The Red Cross also provides good information on how to prepare for natural disasters and weather-related emergencies. Normally, basic first aid will cover steps to keep the victim stable until help can arrive.

CPR on Adults

• If the adult person is not breathing and/or unconscious, first call the ambulance and then start CPR, or cardio-pulmonary resuscitation. It involves a combination of chest compressions and rescue breaths. Place hands on center of chest; use the heel of your hand, and give two breaths into mouth of victim after every 30 chest compressions. Giving breaths involves pinching the victim's nose and blowing into his mouth steadily. If you are unable or unwilling to give rescue breaths, give chest compressions until help arrives.

Severe Bleeding

• You will want to stop or slow down the flow of blood. Use gloves if you have access to them so that you don't risk giving the victim an infection or contracting anything yourself. The first thing you will check for is whether an object is in the wound. If there is an object there, do not press on it; rather, press around it before bandaging to avoid putting pressure. If you do not find anything, press the wound with your hand, or if you have a clean pad, place that on top and secure it with a bandage. If the wound is on the arm or leg, raise the victim's limb above the level of their heart.

Heart Attack

• Having a heart attack is one of the most common life-threatening conditions. First, determine if the victim is suffering from heart attack symptoms. Look for bluish lips, profuse sweating, gasping for air, fainting or dizziness or persistent or sudden chest pain. Make sure to sit the victim down; call an ambulance; give an aspirin for the victim to chew if she is conscious. You may have to perform CPR if necessary.