In an emergency, it’s essential to know the vital elements of administering first aid. It could save a life. A simple acronym (ABC) will remind you of the crucial steps you must take in providing first aid in an emergency. The translation for the first letter is airway (A). Since your initial task is to make sure a person is breathing, you can assist in opening the airway by putting your hand on the person’s forehead and softly tilting the head back. Then, raise the chin with two fingers from your other hand.
At this point, you can confirm the person is breathing (B) by looking down at the person’s body while positioning your ear over the patient’s mouth. Take note of the sound, strength, and cadence of the person’s breathing. If the person has stopped breathing, you can stimulate blood circulation (C) by performing rescue breaths and chest compressions (CPR). This rescue technique delivers oxygen-filled blood to the organs and cells until the patient’s natural breathing mechanism returns.