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Step 1: Assess the situation
Step 2: Plan for interventions
Step 3: Implement first aid
Step 4: Evaluate the situation
First Aid Principles
Want to learn more?
Start CPR as soon as possible
How to perform CPR — adults
Carry out chest compressions:
Give mouth-to-mouth:
How to perform CPR — children over 1 year
To carry out chest compressions on a child:
To give mouth-to-mouth to a child:
How to perform CPR — babies under 1 year
To carry out chest compressions on a baby:
To give mouth-to-mouth to a baby:
Using an automated external defibrillator (AED)
CPR training

by John Furst · Published January 22, 2020 · Updated January 2, 2020

First aid is the immediate medical assistance given to an ill or injured person until professional help arrives to take over. There are four basic steps to performing emergency first aid.

These four first aid steps are:

Assess
Plan
Implement
Evaluate

In this first aid blog post we will take a closer look at the four basic first aid steps.

Step 1: Assess the situation

Assess the situation and check for any potential dangers to yourself, bystanders or the patient

check for safety before rushing to the injured patient
make sure the situation is safe for you, the casualty, and other people or bystanders
if the situation is too dangers, stay back and await professional assistance

Assess the person’s condition:

is the victim suffocating or bleeding heavily? In these cases, act immediately and appropriately
is the person conscious?
is the person breathing normally?

Assess for injuries, signs of shock or psychological trauma.

Step 2: Plan for interventions

Get help:

call for help or ask someone to call for medical or professional help

Plan first aid interventions:

plan what action to take until professional help arrives, based on the initial or primary assessment
determine how much help you can give based on what you know and what skills you have
ensure your own ongoing safety as a rescuer

Step 3: Implement first aid

Implement first aid:

give first aid for life-threatening emergencies and specific injuries based on the initial assessment
if emergency services are arriving very soon, do not splint injuries
maintain safety and wait for assistance Give psychological first aid:
talk to person and family
inform them what is happening and what you are doing If it is necessary, prepare the person for transportation

Step 4: Evaluate the situation

Evaluate first aid actions:

check that medical or professional assistance will arrive soon
check that the scene remains safe. If not, consider moving the person as carefully as possible with help from bystanders or other rescuers
re-check the actions after the initial assessment
check that bandages are still in place and bleeding has stopped. If not, do NOT remove existing dressings, but simply add more dressings and apply pressure
if the person becomes unconscious, follow actions for basic life support (BLS)
hand over the person to medical or professional personnel when they arrive
find out which hospital, clinic or health centre will provide care
inform family and relatives

First Aid Principles

The four principles of first aid management are:

Stay calm. Do not take risks for yourself, the injured person or any witnesses.
Manage the situation to give safe access to the person.
Manage the patient in line with current first aid guidance
Do things step by step

Want to learn more?

CPR (short for cardiopulmonary resuscitation) is a first aid technique that can be used if someone is not breathing properly or if their heart has stopped.

CPR is a skill that everyone can learn — you don’t need to be a health professional to do it.
Try to stay calm if you need to do CPR.
Performing CPR may save a person’s life.
If you know CPR, you might save the life of a family member or friend.

Start CPR as soon as possible

CPR involves chest compressions and mouth-to-mouth (rescue breaths) that help circulate blood and oxygen in the body. This can help keep the brain and vital organs alive.

You should start CPR if a person:

is unconscious
is not responding to you
is not breathing, or is breathing abnormally

How to perform CPR — adults

Watch this video from Royal Life Saving Australia about how to perform CPR on an adult, or read the DRS ABCD action plan and step-by-step instructions below.

Follow these steps before starting CPR. (Use the phrase “doctor’s ABCD” — DRS ABCD — to help you remember the first letter of each step.)

DRSABCD ACTION PLAN

Letter	Representing	What to do
D	Danger	Ensure that the patient and everyone in the area is safe. Do not put yourself or others at risk. Remove the danger or the patient.
R	Response	Look for a response from the patient — loudly ask their name, squeeze their shoulder.
S	Send for help	If there is no response, phone triple zero (000) or ask another person to call. Do not leave the patient.
A	Airway	Check their mouth and throat is clear. Remove any obvious blockages in the mouth or nose, such as vomit, blood, food or loose teeth, then gently tilt their head back and lift their chin.
B	Breathing	Check if the person is breathing abnormally or not breathing at all after 10 seconds. If they are breathing normally, place them in the recovery position and stay with them.
C	CPR	If they are still not breathing normally, start CPR. Chest compressions are the most important part of CPR. Start chest compressions as soon as possible after calling for help.
D	Defibrillation	Attach an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) to the patient if one is available and there is someone else who is able to bring it. Do not get one yourself if that would mean leaving the patient alone.

Carry out chest compressions:

Place the patient on their back and kneel beside them.
Place the heel of your hand on the lower half of the breastbone, in the centre of the person’s chest. Place your other hand on top of the first hand and interlock your fingers.
Position yourself above the patient’s chest.
Using your body weight (not just your arms) and keeping your arms straight, press straight down on their chest by one third of the chest depth.
Release the pressure. Pressing down and releasing is 1 compression.

Give mouth-to-mouth:

Open the person’s airway by placing one hand on the forehead or top of the head and your other hand under the chin to tilt the head back.
Pinch the soft part of the nose closed with your index finger and thumb.
Open the person’s mouth with your thumb and fingers.
Take a breath and place your lips over the patient's mouth, ensuring a good seal.
Blow steadily into their mouth for about 1 second, watching for the chest to rise.
Following the breath, look at the patient’s chest and watch for the chest to fall. Listen and feel for signs that air is being expelled. Maintain the head tilt and chin lift position.
If their chest does not rise, check the mouth again and remove any obstructions. Make sure the head is tilted and chin lifted to open the airway. Check that yours and the patient’s mouth are sealed together and the nose is closed so that air cannot easily escape. Take another breath and repeat.

Give 30 compressions followed by 2 breaths, known as “30:2”. Aim for 5 sets of 30:2 in about 2 minutes (if only doing compressions about 100 – 120 compressions per minute).

Keep going with 30 compressions then 2 breaths until:

the person recovers — they start moving, breathing normally, coughing or talking — then put them in the recovery position; or
it is impossible for you to continue because you are exhausted; or
the ambulance arrives and a paramedic takes over or tells you to stop

Doing CPR is very tiring so if possible, with minimal interruption, swap between doing mouth-to-mouth and compressions so you can keep going with effective compressions.

If you can’t give breaths, doing compressions only without stopping may still save a life.

How to perform CPR — children over 1 year

Use these instructions only if the child's chest is too small for you to use both hands to do chest compressions. Otherwise, use the instructions for adult CPR above.

Watch this video from Royal Life Saving Australia about how to perform CPR on a child, or read the DRS ABCD action plan and step-by-step instructions below.

Follow these steps before starting CPR. (Use the phrase “doctor’s ABCD” — DRS ABCD — to help you remember the first letter of each step.)

DRSABCD ACTION PLAN

Letter	Representing	What to do
D	Danger	Ensure that the patient and everyone in the area is safe. Do not put yourself or others at risk. Remove the danger or the patient.
R	Response	Look for a response from the patient — loudly ask their name, squeeze their shoulder.
S	Send for help	If there is no response, phone triple zero (000) or ask another person to call. Do not leave the patient.
A	Airway	Check their mouth and throat is clear. Remove any obvious blockages in the mouth or nose, such as vomit, blood, food or loose teeth, then gently tilt their head back and lift their chin.
B	Breathing	Check if the person is breathing abnormally or not breathing at all after 10 seconds. If they are breathing normally, place them in the recovery position and stay with them.
C	CPR	If they are still not breathing normally, start CPR. Chest compressions are the most important part of CPR. Start chest compressions as soon as possible after calling for help.
D	Defibrillation	Attach an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) to the patient if one is available and there is someone else who is able to bring it. Do not get one yourself if that would mean leaving the patient alone.

To carry out chest compressions on a child:

Place the child on their back and kneel beside them.
Place the heel of one hand on the lower half of breastbone, in the centre of the child’s chest (the size of the child will determine if you do CPR with 1 hand or 2 hands).
Position yourself above the child’s chest.
Keeping your arm or arms straight, press straight down on their chest by one third of the chest depth.
Release the pressure. Pressing down and releasing is 1 compression.

To give mouth-to-mouth to a child:

Open the child’s airway by placing one hand on the forehead or top of the head and your other hand under the chin to tilt the head back.
Pinch the soft part of the nose closed with your index finger and thumb.
Open the child’s mouth with your thumb and fingers.
Take a breath and place your lips over the child's mouth, ensuring a good seal.
Blow steadily into their mouth for about 1 second, watching for the chest to rise.
Following the breath, look at the child’s chest and watch for the chest to fall. Listen and feel for signs that air is being expelled. Maintain the head tilt and chin lift position.
If their chest does not rise, check the mouth again and remove any obstructions. Make sure the head is tilted and chin lifted to open the airway. Check that yours and the child’s mouth are sealed together, and the nose is closed so that air cannot easily escape. Take another breath and repeat.

Give 30 compressions followed by 2 breaths, known as “30:2”. Aim for 5 sets of 30:2 in about 2 minutes (if only doing compressions about 100 – 120 compressions per minute).

Keep going with 30 compressions then 2 breaths until:

the child recovers – they start moving, breathing normally, coughing or talking — then put them in the recovery position; or
it is impossible for you to continue because you are exhausted; or
the ambulance arrives and a paramedic takes over or tells you to stop

Doing CPR is very tiring so if possible, with minimal interruption, swap between doing mouth-to-mouth and compressions so you can keep going with effective compressions.

If you can’t give breaths, doing compressions only without stopping may still save a life.

How to perform CPR — babies under 1 year

Watch this video from Royal Life Saving Australia about how to perform CPR on a baby, or read the DRS ABC action plan and step-by-step instructions below.

Follow these life support steps before starting. (Use the phrase “doctor’s ABC” — DRS ABC — to help you remember the first letter of each step.)

DRSABC ACTION PLAN

Letter	Representing	What to do
D	Danger	Ensure that the baby/infant and all people in the area are safe. Remove the danger or the baby/infant.
R	Response	Look for a response from the baby/infant — check for a response to a loud voice, or gently squeeze their shoulders. Do not shake the baby/infant.
S	Send for help	If there is no response, phone triple zero (000) or ask another person to call. Do not leave the patient.
A	Airway	Gently lift the baby’s chin to a neutral position (with the head and neck in line, not tilted). Check in the mouth for any blockages, such as vomit, an object or loose teeth, and clear it out with your finger.
B	Breathing	Check if the baby/infant is breathing abnormally or not breathing at all after 10 seconds. If they are breathing normally, place them in the recovery position and stay with them.
C	CPR	If they are still not breathing normally, start CPR. Chest compressions are the most important part of CPR. Start chest compressions as soon as possible after calling for help.

To carry out chest compressions on a baby:

Lie the baby/infant on their back.
Place 2 fingers on the lower half of the breastbone in the middle of the chest and press down by one-third of the depth of the chest (you may need to use one hand to do CPR depending on the size of the infant).
Release the pressure. Pressing down and releasing is 1 compression.

To give mouth-to-mouth to a baby:

Tilt the baby/infant’s head back very slightly.
Lift the baby/infant’s chin up, be careful not to rest your hands on their throat because this will stop the air getting to their lungs from the mouth-to-mouth.
Take a breath and cover the baby/infant’s mouth and nose with your mouth, ensuring a good seal.
Blow steadily for about 1 second, watching for the chest to rise.
Following the breath, look at the baby/infant’s chest and watch for the chest to fall. Listen and feel for signs that air is being expelled.
If their chest does not rise, check their mouth and nose again and remove any obstructions. Make sure their head is in a neutral position to open the airway and that there is a tight seal around the mouth and nose with no air escaping. Take another breath and repeat.

Give 30 compressions followed by 2 breaths, known as “30:2”. Aim for 5 sets of 30:2 in about 2 minutes (if only doing compressions about 100 – 120 compressions per minute).

Keep going with 30 compressions to 2 breaths until:

the baby/infant recovers — they start moving, breathing normally, coughing, crying or responding — then put them in the recovery position (see above); or
it is impossible for you to continue because you are exhausted; or
the ambulance arrives and a paramedic takes over or tells you to stop

If you can’t give breaths, doing compressions only without stopping may still save a life

Using an automated external defibrillator (AED)

Using an AED can also save someone’s life. You do not need to be trained to use an AED since the AED will guide you with voice prompts on how to use it safely.

Attach the AED and follow the prompts.
Continue CPR until the AED is turned on and the pads attached.
The AED pads should be placed as instructed and should not be touching each other.
Make sure no-one touches the person while the shock is being delivered.
You can use a standard adult AED and pads on children over 8 years old. Children younger than 8 should ideally have paediatric pads and an AED with a paediatric capability. If these aren’t available, then use the adult AED.
Do not use an AED on children under 1 year of age.

CPR training

We recommend you attend a first aid training course. It pays to have first aid skills because it will make dealing with an emergency situation easier.

St John Ambulance Australia offers a range of first aid courses and can be contacted at stjohn.org.au. To contact St John Ambulance Australia in your local area, call 1300 360 455.

Royal Life Saving Australia organises training courses in first aid and resuscitation in every state and territory.