Essential First Aid Skills Everyone Should Know

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Do you know the first steps to take in an emergency? Equip yourself with vital first aid knowledge that could save lives with our latest episode of Survival Sense. I'm your host, Keith Thomas, and today we’re diving into essential first aid skills that everyone should have, whether you’re out in the wild or just going about your daily life. We’ll guide you through the DR-ABC approach—Danger, Response, Airway, Breathing, Circulation—offering clear, practical steps to handle everything from minor cuts and burns to severe emergencies like CPR and recognizing shock. This episode is brimming with life-saving information that can turn dire situations into manageable ones.

Stay ready and informed with our comprehensive take on first aid safety and preparedness. We highlight the critical importance of a well-stocked first aid kit and encourage everyone to seek certified first aid and CPR training for hands-on experience. Don't miss our recommendations for top-notch first aid kits and the "Prepper's Medical Manual" available in the show description, perfect for those seeking alternative methods. We love hearing from our listeners, so feel free to text us your questions and feedback. Subscribe, rate, and review our podcast to stay updated and prepared for any emergency life throws your way. Stay safe and equipped until our next episode!


Recommended First Aid Kits:
Home First Aid Kit
Hiking/Travel First Aid kit
Multipurpose Trauma Kit
First Responder Kit

Prepper's Medical Manual

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Episode resources: SAS Survival Handbook

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Episode Transcript

Keith Thomas (00:01):
Thank you so much for joining us.

(00:30):
Welcome back to another episodeof Survival Sense, your go-to
podcast for all things disasterpreparedness and survival skills
.
I'm your host, keith Thomas,and today we're diving into a
crucial topic basic first aidskills everyone should know.

(00:52):
Before we get started, I wantto remind you all that you can
send your questions, commentsand feedback through our Send Us
a Text Message link.
Your input helps us make thispodcast even better, so don't
hesitate to reach out.
Imagine you're out hiking withfriends and someone slips and

(01:14):
cuts their leg on a sharp rock.
What would you do?
Knowing basic first aid skillscan make the difference between
a minor injury and a majoremergency.
In today's episode, we'll coveressential first aid techniques

(01:37):
that everyone should know.
These skills are not only vitalduring outdoor adventures, but
also in everyday life.
Let me add my own littledisclaimer here, and please note
that the instructions givenhere are an overview of the
skills needed for basic firstaid.
I strongly recommend that youcontact your local fire

(02:00):
department, EMS Station,american Heart Association or
Red Cross to enroll in a basicfirst aid and CPR class.
These classes provide acomprehensive methodology on
these subjects to better prepareyou with the knowledge and
hands-on training to performthese potentially life-saving

(02:21):
skills.
The first step in any first aidsituation is to assess the scene
for safety.
Ensure you're not puttingyourself or others in danger.
Once the area is safe, checkthe injured person.
Are they conscious, breathing,bleeding?
Use the primary survey approachDR-ABC.

(02:45):
This is danger, response,airway, breathing and
circulation.
Let's break this down.
The D is for danger Look aroundfor any potential hazards.
You don't want to placeyourself in an unsafe situation
trying to save someone else.
The R is for response Check ifthe person is responsive by

(03:12):
gently shaking them and askingif they're okay.
And the A is for airway Ensurethe airway is clear.
If necessary, tilt their headback slightly to open the airway
.
B is for breathing Look, listenand feel for breathing.

(03:35):
And the C is for circulationCheck for signs of circulation,
such as movement, coughing ornormal breathing.
You can also check for a pulseby feeling the brachial pulse
just below the thumb or carotidpulse in the neck.

(03:56):
Now let's talk about minor cutsand scrapes.
Minor cuts and scrapes arecommon injuries that can happen
anywhere, and here's how youtreat them.
First, you want to clean thewound.
You can do this by rinsing outthe cut or scrape with clean

(04:23):
water to remove any dirt anddebris.
The next step is to stop thebleeding.
Apply gentle pressure with aclean cloth or bandage.
The third step is to protectthe wound.
Once the bleeding has stopped,apply an antibiotic ointment and
cover the wound with a sterilebandage.

(04:43):
Step 4 is monitor for infection.
Keep an eye on the wound forsigns of infection, such as
redness, swelling or pus.
If you notice any of thesesigns, seek medical attention.

(05:05):
Let's talk about handling burns.
Burns can be particularlypainful and require prompt
attention.
Here's what to do.
The first step is to cool theburn.
Here's what to do.
The first step is to cool theburn Immediately.
Run cool not cold water overthe burn for at least 10 minutes

(05:26):
.
This helps reduce pain andswelling.
The second step is to protectthe burn.
Cover the burn with a clean,non-stick bandage or cloth.
Step three is to manage thepain.

(05:49):
This can be an over-the-counterpain reliever like ibuprofen,
which can help manage the pain.
And step four is to seekmedical help.
For severe burns, especiallythose that cover a large area or

(06:12):
on the face, hands, feet orgenitals, seek professional
medical help immediately.
Next we're going to talk aboutdealing with sprains and strains
.
Sprains and strains are commoninjuries, especially during
physical activities.
Here's a quick guide tomanaging them.

(06:33):
First step is to rest Avoidputting weight on the injured
area.
Second step is to apply icepack to the injured area for 15
to 20 minutes every hour toreduce swelling.
Third step is compression Wrapthe injured area with an elastic

(06:56):
bandage to provide support andreduce swelling.
And the fourth step iselevation Keep the injured area
elevated above the level of yourheart to minimize swelling.
Now let's talk about some CPRbasics.

(07:17):
Cpr, or cardiopulmonaryresuscitation, is a life-saving
skill everyone should learn.
If someone is unresponsive andnot breathing, here's what to do
.
First step is to call for helpImmediately call emergency

(07:38):
services.
Second step is chestcompressions.
Place the heel of your hand inthe center of the person's chest
, with your other hand on top.
Press down hard and fast at arate of 100 to 120 compressions
per minute.
Rescue breaths After 30compressions, give two rescue

(08:06):
breaths.
Tilt the person's head back,lift their chin, pinch their
nose and give a breath thatmakes their chest rise their
nose and give a breath thatmakes their chest rise.
Repeat the cycle of 30compressions and two breaths
until help arrives.
Now let's talk about recognizingand responding to shock.

(08:28):
Shock is a life-threateningcondition that can occur after a
severe injury or illness.
Signs of shock include pale,clammy skin, rapid breathing and
a weak pulse.
If you suspect someone is inshock, lay them down.

(08:48):
Keep the person laying flat ontheir back.
Elevate their legs.
Raise their legs about 12inches to improve blood flow to
the heart.
Keep them warm.
Use a blanket or coat to keepthe person warm and call for

(09:09):
help.
Seek emergency medicalassistance immediately.
Now that we've covered some ofthe basics of first aid and CPR,
let's talk about first aid kitsand training.
Having a well-stocked first aidkit and knowing how to use it
is essential.
Stocked first aid kit andknowing how to use it is

(09:31):
essential.
Your kit should includebandages, antiseptic wipes,
tweezers and a CPR face shield.
I will leave a link in the showdescription for first aid kits.
I recommend Again, I highlyrecommend that everyone take a
certified first aid and CPRcourse to gain hands-on

(09:52):
experience.
These professional classesshould be a top priority for all
preppers and survivalists.
To find a class in your area,contact your local fire
department, ems station,american Heart Association or

(10:13):
Red Cross.
Well, that's it for today'sepisode on basic first aid
skills everyone should know.
Remember being prepared andknowing how to act in an
emergency can save lives.
Don't forget to send yourquestions and feedback through
our send us a text message link.
We love hearing from you.
If you found this episodehelpful, please subscribe, rate

(10:44):
and review our podcast on yourfavorite platform.
Also, before we wrap up, I wantto give a quick reminder to
check out the show descriptionfor our recommended first aid
kits.
These include all types of kits, from basic backpack and home
kits to first responder kits.
Also, I'm leaving arecommendation for a first aid
manual titled Prepper's MedicalManual.

(11:04):
This manual is written for theprepping community and features
many alternative methods usingthe items you might find around
you.
Check them out through thelinks in our show description.
Stay safe, stay prepared anduntil next time.
This is Keith Thomas signingoff for Survival Sense.

(11:27):
Have a great day.