First aid guides
Clear, paraphrased first-aid steps for CPR, choking, severe bleeding, burns, heat stroke, hypothermia and more — plus the emergency number to call wherever you are.
In an emergency, call your emergency number first — 112 across the EU. This is general information, not a substitute for hands-on first-aid training or professional medical care. If you are unsure, call for help and follow the dispatcher's instructions.
Choose an emergency
Adult CPR
What to do when an adult is unresponsive and not breathing normally.
Choking (adult)
Clearing a blocked airway in a responsive adult.
Severe bleeding
Controlling heavy bleeding while help is on the way.
Burns and scalds
First aid for heat burns and scalds.
Heat stroke
A life-threatening overheating emergency.
Hypothermia
Warming someone who has become dangerously cold.
Severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis)
A rapid, life-threatening allergic reaction.
Seizure
Keeping someone safe during a convulsive seizure.
Nosebleed
Stopping a common nosebleed.
Fainting and the recovery position
Helping someone who has fainted or is unconscious but breathing.
Emergency numbers
112 reaches emergency services across the European Union and much of the world, often even without a SIM or signal from your own network. Some countries keep additional local numbers.
| Where you are | Emergency number |
|---|---|
| European Union & EEA (incl. Estonia, Finland, Latvia, Lithuania) | 112 |
| United Kingdom | 999 (112 also works) |
| United States & Canada | 911 |
| Australia | 000 |
| New Zealand | 111 |
The one habit worth having
Most people freeze in an emergency simply because they have never rehearsed it. Reading these steps now, and taking a short first-aid course when you can, makes it far more likely you will act — and acting early, even imperfectly, saves lives. Learn where the nearest defibrillator (AED) is at your work and gym, too.
Source: Steps paraphrase widely-accepted guidance from bodies such as the European Resuscitation Council and national Red Cross societies. General information only. · checked 2026-09-04
Frequently asked questions
Should I call for help before or after starting first aid?
Call your emergency number as early as you safely can — 112 across the EU. For an unresponsive adult who is not breathing, get help on the way and start CPR immediately; put the phone on speaker so your hands are free.
Is this a substitute for a first-aid course?
No. These guides are general information to help you act in the moment, but a hands-on course teaches skills — like effective chest compressions — that reading cannot. If you can, take one.
What is the number 112?
112 is the common emergency number across the European Union and many other countries. It connects you to ambulance, fire and police, often works without credit or a SIM, and usually connects even with no signal from your own network.
Be ready, stay well
TempoLife helps you build the healthy, prepared habits that keep small problems small.