First Aid Basics Every Household Should Know

First Aid Basics Every Household Should Know

First aid is the immediate help given before professional care is available. It can reduce harm, but it should never delay emergency care.

A household first aid kit arranged beside a checklist

Start with safety

Before helping, check that the scene is safe. Wash or sanitize hands when possible. Use gloves or a clean cloth to avoid contact with blood.

Common situations

• Bleeding: Apply firm pressure with a clean cloth and keep pressure until help arrives.
• Burns: Cool the burn under clean running water for about 20 minutes. Do not apply toothpaste, oils, or soil.
• Fainting: Lay the person flat, loosen tight clothing, and seek care if they do not recover quickly.
• Choking: If a person cannot cough, speak, or breathe, call emergency help and use recommended choking first-aid steps if trained.

Build a basic kit

Keep clean gauze, bandages, gloves, antiseptic, oral rehydration salts, a thermometer, scissors, and emergency numbers in one reachable place.

Call emergency services or go to the nearest facility for severe bleeding, deep burns, difficulty breathing, chest pain, seizures, severe injury, or loss of consciousness.