First aid basics
If you're reading this because there is an emergency, then stop and call triple zero (000). The triple zero operator can give you specific advice on providing first aid in your situation.
If you think you or someone you know is experiencing anaphylaxis, use the adrenaline autoinjector immediately. Then call triple zero (000) and ask for an ambulance. Follow an ASCIA allergy action plan, if you have one.
Key facts
- First aid covers the steps you take to help a person in the first minutes of an illness or injury until further help arrives.
- If you are helping someone with first aid, follow the DRSABCD action plan.
- Consider going to first aid training to improve your skills in handling emergencies.
- Put together a first aid kit for use at home and in the car.
- First aid can manage many situations, from allergic reactions to injuries, and may even save a life.
What is first aid?
First aid covers the steps you take to help a person in the first minutes of an illness or injury.
Accidents or illness can happen to anyone at any time in any place.
First aid may:
- ease someone's pain or discomfort
- help the person recover more quickly
- save a life
First aid may be useful in many situations, such as when dealing with:
- bites and stings from plants, insects, spiders, snakes, sea creatures and other animals
- airway problems, for example, following anaphylaxis or choking
- burns, including chemical burns and electrical shocks
- injuries such as eye injuries, sprains, broken bones and wounds
- poisoning
- swallowed objects or substances
Why learn first aid?
Knowing the basics of first aid could help you save the life of a loved one, colleague or stranger.
First aid may involve a simple action, such as placing a person in the correct position so that they can breathe freely.
It may involve a more skilled activity, such as cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), if someone has stopped breathing.
It could also involve using an adrenaline autoinjector, such as an EpiPen, if they're having an allergic reaction.
Some situations can be managed with first aid alone. At other times, you may need help from your doctor or hospital emergency department.
In an emergency, you should call triple zero (000). The triple zero phone operator can give you specific first aid advice to follow until the ambulance arrives.
You can also get first aid guidance on the Australian Red Cross First Aid app.
The DRSABCD action plan
If you have completed a first aid course, you will be familiar with the DRSABCD action plan. You can remember them by thinking 'Doctor's ABCD' (which stands for 'DRS ABCD').
Each letter is a prompt for the actions to take when first aid is needed.
| Letter | Representing | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| D | Danger | Ensure the area is safe for you, bystanders and the person, by checking for any hazards. Do not put yourself or others at risk. Look, listen and smell, to identify potential dangers. |
| R | Response |
Look for a response from the person — loudly ask their name and provide a gentle touch. If they do not respond, give their shoulder a hard squeeze. No response? Call for help immediately. If the person responds, make them comfortable, monitor their breathing and manage severe bleeding and other injuries. |
| S | Send for help | Call triple zero (000) or ask someone else to call. Stay on the line. If you are alone, place the person in the recovery position before leaving to call for help. |
| A | Airway |
Check that the person's mouth and throat are clear by gently tilting their head back and lifting their chin to inspect their airway. If there is foreign material, roll the person onto their side and clear their airway. If there is no foreign material, leave them in the position you found them in. Gently tilt their head back and lift their chin to clear their airway. |
| B | Breathing |
Check if the person is breathing by looking, listening and feeling for 10 seconds. If breathing is normal, place them in the recovery position and continue to monitor their breathing. If breathing is not normal, call an ambulance and start CPR. |
| C | CPR |
Start CPR: give 30 chest compressions followed by 2 breaths. Continue CPR until the person starts breathing, help arrives or you are physically unable to continue. If you are uncomfortable giving breaths continue with chest compressions only until help arrives. If more than one person trained in CPR is available, rotate every 2 minutes to maintain CPR efficiency. |
| D | Defibrillation | As soon as possible, attach an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) to the person. Follow the voice prompts. Do not leave the person alone to fetch the defibrillator — let someone else bring it to you. |
The DRSABCD action plan is a useful tool in first aid, especially if you have had training in how to manage each step.
Where to learn first aid
If you want to learn first aid, there are plenty of courses available. Courses may be run face-to-face or online and for different lengths of time. You might complete a course in a public setting or at a private venue, such as your workplace.
Organisations that offer courses and certificates in first aid and CPR include:
- St John Ambulance Australia
- Royal Life Saving Society — Australia
- Queensland Government Ambulance Service
- Australian Red Cross
- CareFlight
It's also a good idea to buy first aid kits for your home and car.
Resources and support
St John Ambulance Australia offers helpful information and resources, including:
- a first aid course participant guide
- fact sheets that provide a step-by-step guide to basic first aid addressing common emergency situations
- first aid training
For more information, you can also call the healthdirect helpline on 1800 022 222 (known as NURSE-ON-CALL in Victoria). A registered nurse is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Do you prefer to read in languages other than English?
St John Ambulance Australia offers basic first aid fact sheets in a variety of community languages.
Learn more here about the development and quality assurance of healthdirect content.
Last reviewed: November 2024
