Basic first aid and emergencies
In an emergency, the person who knows three simple things is far more useful than the person who knows none. These are the three.
Lesson overview
What you'll learn in this lesson
Know basic first aid and how to get help in an emergency
Key learning points
- • Call for help
- • Unresponsive but breathing
- • Bleeding, burns and choking
This lesson at a glance
- 20 minutes
- 20 parts to scroll through
- 4 quick checks
- Marked quiz at the end
- Gentle pace: short sittings with pauses
Words to know
Scroll down — the lesson carries on below
Watch & discover
Part 1 of 20
Visual introductionPicture this
Basic first aid and emergencies
In an emergency, the person who knows three simple things is far more useful than the person who knows none. These are the three.
In a nutshell
Know basic first aid and how to get help in an emergency
Learning cycle
Part 2 of 20
Learning cycle 1 of 2
Part 1 · Call for help
A short piece of teaching, then a check to make sure it has landed.
Explore the idea
Part 3 of 20
Learn
Call for help
Dial 999 for an ambulance, police, fire or coastguard, or 112, which also works. Give the location first — that is the one detail that lets help start moving. Stay on the line and do what the call handler says. 111 is for urgent but non-emergency medical advice.
Reset break
Part 4 of 20
Pause
That's sitting 1 of 5 done
Stretch, get a drink, look out of the window. There is no timer and nothing is counting down — your place is saved, so you can come back in five minutes or tomorrow.
Explore the idea
Part 5 of 20
Learn
Unresponsive but breathing
Check for danger before approaching, try to get a response, and open the airway. If they are breathing normally, place them on their side in the recovery position, tilt the head back slightly so the airway stays open, call 999 and stay with them.
Quick check
Part 6 of 20
Quick check
Part 7 of 20
Reset break
Part 8 of 20
Pause
That's sitting 2 of 5 done
Stretch, get a drink, look out of the window. There is no timer and nothing is counting down — your place is saved, so you can come back in five minutes or tomorrow.
Learning cycle
Part 9 of 20
Learning cycle 2 of 2
Part 2 · Bleeding, burns and choking
A short piece of teaching, then a check to make sure it has landed.
Explore the idea
Part 10 of 20
Learn
Bleeding, burns and choking
Heavy bleeding: press firmly on the wound with a cloth and keep pressing. Burns: cool under running water for at least twenty minutes and never apply creams or ice. Choking with no effective cough: five firm back blows between the shoulder blades, then five abdominal thrusts, alternating, while someone calls 999.
Quick check
Part 11 of 20
Reset break
Part 12 of 20
Pause
That's sitting 3 of 5 done
Stretch, get a drink, look out of the window. There is no timer and nothing is counting down — your place is saved, so you can come back in five minutes or tomorrow.
Quick check
Part 13 of 20
Explore the idea
Part 14 of 20
Worked example
Worked example: the order of actions
Someone collapses in a park. 1) Check it is safe to approach. 2) Try to get a response. 3) Check breathing. 4) Breathing — recovery position and call 999; not breathing — call 999 immediately and start chest compressions if you have been trained. Doing something imperfectly is better than doing nothing.
Challenge round
Part 15 of 20
Game · Sort it
Which of these are true?
Drag each card into the right column. Tap a card first if dragging is fiddly.
True
Not true
Reset break
Part 16 of 20
Pause
That's sitting 4 of 5 done
Stretch, get a drink, look out of the window. There is no timer and nothing is counting down — your place is saved, so you can come back in five minutes or tomorrow.
Challenge round
Part 17 of 20
Game · Fill the gaps
Finish the sentences
Choose the word that belongs in each gap.
111 is for urgent but non-____ medical advice.
If they are ____ normally, place them on their side in the recovery position, tilt the head back slightly so the airway stays open, call 999 and stay with them.
Heavy ____: press firmly on the wound with a cloth and keep pressing.
Challenge round
Part 18 of 20
Game · Recall cards
What should you say first when calling 999?
Card 1 of 4
Mastery quiz
Part 19 of 20
Marked quiz
End of lesson quiz: Basic first aid and emergencies
4 questions, marked with the reasoning shown. No timer.
1. What should you say first when calling 999?
2. What do you do for someone unresponsive but breathing normally?
3. How should a burn be treated?
4. Which number gives urgent non-emergency medical advice?
Lesson round-up
Part 20 of 20
Lesson round-up
Ready when you are
Quiz score
Not sat
Games
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Points this lesson
0
Best run
0 in a row
Luna: 0 out of 4 on the practice checks. Only if you feel up to it — one more?
Ask LunaPart 1 of 20 · Watch & discover