First-aid guidelines have been updated to include managing opioid overdoses and other emergencies. The American Heart Association and the American Red Cross developed the revised guidelines, published in Circulation. This is the first update since 2010, reflecting the changing landscape of public health challenges. The updates aim to equip both professionals and the public with lifesaving skills that are critical in emergencies.
Dr. Elizabeth Hewett Brumberg, a co-chair of the writing group, emphasized the importance of recognizing an emergency, assessing the situation, and prioritizing needs. The evidence-based updates reaffirm common practices for emergency responders and provide specific guidance for basic first-aid topics. Bystanders are also instructed on recognizing when professional help is needed and how to effectively use available tools and medications.
The new guidelines expand the scope of emergency care conditions, providing detailed guidance on opioid overdoses, tick bites, fainting, open chest wounds, external bleeding, spinal motion restrictions, seizures, heatstroke, hypothermia, frostbite, chest pain, and stroke. Dr. Matthew J. Douma, a co-chair of the writing group, encourages enrolling in a first-aid class to learn how to provide emergency care effectively.
Overall, the updated guidelines stress the importance of training, maintaining first-aid skills, and having a first aid kit on hand. This new information is essential in equipping bystanders and emergency responders with the knowledge and skills necessary to save lives and minimize harm during emergencies.
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