Health Feature: Heart Health

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Emergencies and First Aid

Are you prepared for an emergency? Proper preparation is the key to dealing with emergencies. Make sure you are prepared and ready in case of an emergency:

• Take courses in first aid and CPR.
• Have a first aid kit available at home and in your car.
• Be sure you receive the proper training to stay safe in your workplace.
• Keep 72 hours’ worth of supplies on hand for your family, such as food, drinking water, first aid supplies, a flashlight and a radio in case of an emergency in your community, such as a power blackout. Click here for provincial emergency preparedness information.

If you encounter an emergency, you can:

• Take a deep breath and tell yourself you can handle the situation.
• Keep yourself and any injured people safe from hazards in the area, such as oncoming traffic.
• See if there is someone on the scene to help. If so, ask the person to call 9-1-1 or your local emergency number.
• Get people with first aid training to help you. See if an injured person needs help first. As a rule, people with no pulse, those who are not breathing, and those with severe bleeding should be helped first.
• Perform first aid and CPR. Call 9-1-1 or your local emergency number.

To learn more about emergencies and first aid, see these topics:

• Dealing with Emergencies
• Emergency First Aid for Heatstroke
• Rescue Breathing and CPR
• Rest, Ice, Compression and Elevation (RICE)

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