Health: First Aid and Emergency Response
Staying safe, getting help, and giving basic care
Health: First Aid and Emergency Response
Staying safe, getting help, and giving basic care
Health - Grade 6-8
- 1
You see a student fall during gym class and they are not getting up. What are the first three actions you should take before trying to help?
Think about your safety first, then getting help, then checking the person.
You should check that the scene is safe, get a trusted adult or call emergency services, and check whether the student is awake and breathing from a safe distance. You should not rush in if there is danger to you. - 2
A friend cuts their hand on a broken glass. The cut is bleeding steadily. Describe how you should help while waiting for an adult.
You should avoid touching the blood with bare hands, have the person apply firm pressure with clean gauze or cloth, keep the injured hand raised if possible, and get an adult right away. If bleeding is severe or does not slow, emergency services should be called. - 3
Explain why it is important to call emergency services for serious injuries instead of trying to handle the situation alone.
Consider what trained responders can do that a student cannot.
It is important to call emergency services because trained responders have the equipment and skills to treat serious injuries safely. Trying to handle a serious emergency alone can delay care and make the situation worse. - 4
A classmate burns their finger on a hot pan during a cooking activity. What should be done for a minor burn?
For a minor burn, the person should cool the burn under clean, cool running water for several minutes and remove tight jewelry near the burn if it is safe to do so. Butter, oil, ice, and toothpaste should not be put on the burn. An adult should be told. - 5
List four pieces of information you should give when calling emergency services.
Think about what responders need to find you and prepare to help.
You should give the exact location, what happened, how many people are injured, and the condition of the injured person. You should also answer the dispatcher’s questions and stay on the line until told to hang up. - 6
During lunch, someone appears to be choking. They cannot speak, cough, or breathe. What should you do?
You should call for an adult immediately and have someone call emergency services. If you are trained, you may give choking first aid, such as abdominal thrusts, but if you are not trained you should get help right away and follow the dispatcher’s instructions. - 7
A student says they feel dizzy and then faints. Describe a safe response.
Focus on safety, getting help, and not giving food or drink too soon.
You should check that the area is safe, call for an adult, and make sure emergency services are contacted if the student does not wake quickly or has other symptoms. The student should stay lying down, and you should not give food or drink until an adult or medical professional says it is safe. - 8
Explain the difference between a minor injury and an emergency. Give one example of each.
A minor injury is an injury that can usually be cared for with basic first aid, such as a small scrape. An emergency is a situation that may threaten life or cause serious harm, such as trouble breathing, heavy bleeding, or a person who is unconscious. - 9
A teammate twists their ankle during practice. The ankle hurts and starts to swell. What should you do first?
Stopping activity can prevent the injury from getting worse.
You should tell the teammate to stop playing, help them sit or rest, and get an adult or coach. The ankle can be supported and cold can be applied through a cloth if an adult says it is okay, but the person should not be forced to walk on it. - 10
Why should you not move a person who may have a head, neck, or back injury unless they are in immediate danger?
You should not move the person because movement could make a head, neck, or back injury worse. The safest choice is to keep them still, get an adult, and call emergency services unless the person must be moved away from immediate danger. - 11
A student has a nosebleed. Describe the correct first aid steps for a typical nosebleed.
Leaning forward helps keep blood from going down the throat.
The student should sit upright and lean slightly forward. They should pinch the soft part of the nose and breathe through the mouth. An adult should be told, and medical help should be called if the bleeding is heavy, follows a serious injury, or does not stop. - 12
Create a short emergency action plan for your classroom. Include at least three steps students should follow during a medical emergency.
A good classroom emergency action plan includes staying calm, checking that the area is safe, telling the teacher or nearest adult right away, calling emergency services if directed, keeping other students back, and following adult instructions until help arrives.