First aid basics

First aid is the first and immediate assistance given to any person suffering from a minor or serious illness or injury, with care provided to preserve life, prevent the condition from worsening, or to promote recovery. The widely used DRABC priorities are: Danger (check for danger to yourself and the casualty), Response (check whether the casualty is conscious), Airway (ensure the airway is open), Breathing (check for breathing) and Circulation (check for a pulse and obvious bleeding). Common first-aid skills include CPR, recovery position, control of bleeding, dressing of burns, and the response to choking. First-aid training should be done with a recognised training organisation; the information on this page is general reference only.