Emergencies and First Aid - Emergency Checklist
This list describes your priorities in an emergency situation. Follow these steps:
- Evaluate the scene to protect yourself and others from injury or danger.
- Be calm and reassuring.
- Do not move the person unless he or she is in imminent danger or unless you cannot provide assistance without moving the person.
- Get help. Call out for someone to phone 911 or, if the person does not need immediate assistance, make the call yourself.
- If the situation is a choking emergency, perform the Heimlich maneuver (see Choking).
- Look, listen, and feel for breathing (see Breathing Difficulties).
- Feel for a pulse to determine if the heart is beating.
- Control bleeding with direct pressure.
- Treat for shock.
- If the person is unconscious, move him or her into the recovery position.
Print This Page
Disclaimer:
As a service to our readers, Harvard Health Publishing provides access to our library of archived content. Please note the date of last review or update on all articles.
No content on this site, regardless of date, should ever be used as a substitute for direct medical advice from your doctor or other qualified clinician.
