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First Aid & Emergencies

First-aid kits, CPR, incident reports, emergency care basics.

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About First Aid & Emergencies

In a medical emergency, what you do in the first 10 minutes matters more than anything that happens later. This section covers building a first-aid kit, basic emergency response (CPR, bleeding, choking, burns), and the printable incident reports that help during and after an event. These tools are for preparation and reference, not a substitute for Red Cross certification or professional care.

Tools 2

CPR Compression Rate Metronome An audio and visual metronome set to the AHA-recommended 100–120 compressions per minute, practice CPR timing or guide compressions in an emergency.
Emergency Action Decision Tree: What to Do First Pick the incident, severity, and patient to get ranked first-response actions, critical DO NOT warnings, and when-to-call-911 thresholds for 10 common home emergencies. General guidance, not a substitute for first-aid training.

Guides 6

Car First Aid Kit What to keep in a compact first aid kit for your vehicle, road trips, and everyday travel.
Emergency Care Basics Simple guidance for what to do before help arrives, focused on basic preparedness and response.
First Aid Kit Checklist What to keep in a practical first aid kit for home, car, travel, and everyday preparedness.
Home Emergency First-Aid Skills: What to Actually Do The action layer to pair with your first-aid kit: what to actually DO in 10 common home emergencies, with Canadian Heart and Stroke plus AHA BLS-aligned guidance and common mistakes to avoid.
Home Medical Kit What to keep in a practical home medical kit for everyday illness, minor injuries, and preparedness.
Travel First Aid Kit What to pack in a compact first aid kit for trips, flights, vacations, and travel.

Printables 3

Emergency Response Quick Reference (Laminate-and-Keep Card) A printable, laminate-friendly emergency quick-reference card: 911-vs-urgent-care decision matrix, 6 scenarios with 3-step responses, CPR and AED refreshers, a NEVER list, fill-in emergency contacts, and provincial Canadian poison control numbers.
First Aid Incident Report Document injuries, treatments administered, and follow-up actions with this printable incident report form for your first aid kit.
First Aid Kit Checklist Printable checklist for reviewing and restocking a practical first aid kit for home, car, travel, or emergencies.

Frequently asked questions

What absolutely must be in a home first-aid kit?

Assorted bandages, sterile gauze, medical tape, antiseptic wipes, tweezers, scissors, a digital thermometer, pain relievers (acetaminophen and ibuprofen), antihistamines (for allergic reactions), burn gel, a CPR breathing barrier, and an updated list of household medications with allergies and doses. Our first-aid kit checker builds from this base.

Should I take a CPR class?

Yes, and recertify every two years. Written or video instructions are reminders; they don't replace hands-on practice for getting compressions right. Red Cross and American Heart Association offer in-person and hybrid courses in most cities for $50 to $100.

When is bleeding serious enough to call 911?

Bleeding that spurts, won't stop after 10 minutes of direct pressure, comes from the neck or groin, or accompanies signs of shock (pale, cold, clammy skin, rapid pulse) is always 911. Apply firm pressure while waiting, and don't remove soaked pads; add more on top.

What do I do for a burn?

Cool water (not ice) for 10 to 20 minutes. Cover loosely with a clean, non-stick cloth. Don't apply butter, toothpaste, or ointments for severe burns. Anything larger than a palm, on the face, hands, feet, or joints, or showing charring or white patches needs medical care.

What should I do if someone is choking?

If they can cough, let them cough. If they can't breathe or speak, five back blows between the shoulder blades, then five abdominal thrusts (Heimlich maneuver), repeat. For pregnant people or infants, technique changes; our first-aid printable covers each variation.

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