2024 American Heart Association and American Red Cross Guidelines for First Aid
Published: November 14, 2024
- General care and safety: The first aid provider should provide care within their skill and knowledge set, seeking further medical care as needed, and be mindful of their own safety.
- First aid for bleeding: When faced with life-threatening bleeding, the first aid provider should apply direct pressure followed by application of a tourniquet or wound packing, if the location of the wound is amenable.
- First aid for chest pain: In adults with acute chest pain, it is recommended that emergency medical services (EMS) be activated to initiate transport to the closest emergency department (ED). While awaiting the arrival of EMS, first aid providers may encourage alert adults experiencing nontraumatic chest pain to chew and swallow aspirin (162–325 mg), unless the person experiencing pain has a known aspirin allergy or has been advised by a health care professional not to take aspirin.