Emergency guide
Quick guidance, not treatment
Short reviewed cards for emergency awareness. This page is not diagnosis, medical advice, or a substitute for emergency services.
Scene safety
Pause, look around, and protect yourself before helping.
- First action
- Your personal safety always comes first.
- 911
- Call 911 when the emergency is serious or unclear.
Manual-backed: Your personal safety always comes first. approved_exactCardiac arrest awareness
If someone is unconscious and not breathing normally, get help and get the AED.
- First action
- Activate EMS (9-1-1).
- 911
- Call 911 and follow dispatcher instructions.
Manual-backed: When a patient is unconscious and not breathing or not breathing normally the rescuer must provide CPR & AED quickly. adapted_needs_reviewAED basics
AEDs talk helpers through the process with verbal and visual prompts.
- First action
- Turn on the AED. Follow verbal and visual prompts.
- 911
- Call 911 and send someone for the AED.
Manual-backed: Turn on the AED. Follow verbal and visual prompts. approved_exactChoking
If a person is coughing forcefully, get help and encourage coughing. Severe choking needs trained response.
- First action
- Ask for adult or trained help.
- 911
- Call 911 if the person cannot speak, breathe, or cough effectively.
Manual-backed: Usually, if a person is coughing...they are not choking! adapted_needs_reviewSevere bleeding
Severe bleeding can be life threatening. Get help and supplies quickly.
- First action
- Alert — Call 911.
- 911
- Call 911 for life-threatening bleeding.
Manual-backed: Alert — Call 911 adapted_needs_reviewBurns
Stop the burning process and get trained help.
- First action
- Flush with cool running water for 20 minutes.
- 911
- Call 911 for serious burns or if directed by a trained responder.
Manual-backed: Flush with cool running water for 20 minutes approved_exactStroke signs
Face, arm, or speech changes need immediate EMS activation.
- First action
- Activate EMS immediately.
- 911
- Call 911 and note the time.
Manual-backed: Look for abnormalities, loss of function or changes in Face, Arms, or Speech approved_exactAllergic reaction
Serious allergy signs can become life threatening quickly.
- First action
- Act quickly. Swelling may close the airway.
- 911
- Call 911 for serious allergy signs.
Manual-backed: Act quickly. Swelling may close the airway. approved_exactSeizure
Protect the person from injury and do not put anything in their mouth.
- First action
- Protect the patient from injury, particularly their head.
- 911
- Call 911 when the situation is severe, prolonged, or uncertain.
Manual-backed: Do not restrict movement or place anything in the patient’s mouth approved_exactHeat and cold awareness
Move toward safety, get adult or trained help, and call 911 if symptoms are serious.
- First action
- Look around and protect yourself before helping.
- 911
- Call 911 for serious heat or cold illness concerns.
Manual-backed: Look around. Do not focus only on the patient; take a look at the big picture. draft