Take the First Aid/Emergency Quiz

Try to remain calm and speak slowly and clearly. The dispatcher may ask you if anyone has been injured and, if so, how many. They may also ask about the person's condition. Don't hang up until the dispatcher tells you it's OK to do so. Wait on the scene until emergency help arrives.

Paramedics ride in ambulances and take care of injured people at accident scenes. In hospitals in some states they may work as technicians. They start IV lines, draw blood, splint, and prep wounds. A hospital emergency room (ER) is staffed with doctors and nurses specially trained in emergency medicine. They may also have other healthcare providers such as physician assistants and nurse practitioners. They know how to treat accident victims and people who suddenly become sick (heart attack, for instance).

If your area does not have 911 service, also post emergency numbers for police and fire. Other useful numbers are your local hospital and ambulance service. If you have pets, post your veterinarian's number, as well.

You should also call an ambulance if the person can't be safely moved without the help of emergency medical staff.

In the meantime, review CPR procedures every 6 months to keep them fresh in your mind.

Use hydrogen peroxide to clean wounds, the calamine lotion to relieve itching from insect bites or poison ivy, and the aspirin in case of heart attack symptoms while waiting for emergency medical staff.

A tourniquet, such as a cloth or bandage twisted tight, should be used with caution because it can damage nerves and blood vessels. This can lead to greater injury. Use a tourniquet for life-threatening bleeding only after you've been told how to use one. To raise a leg wound above the heart to slow bleeding, have the person lie on the ground and raise (elevate) the leg. If you have put pressure to a wound for at least 20 minutes, but it continues to bleed, get medical help. Don't remove any objects that have pierced the person. Medical staff should do this.

Even if a person's injuries aren't life-threatening, they can go into shock and die. Shock occurs when a person's organs and tissues don't get enough blood or oxygen. The person may be unconscious, but not always. Call for emergency help first, then follow these steps:

• Maintain an open airway for breathing
• Control obvious bleeding
• Cover the person with blankets
• Keep the person on their back, unless they vomit (move the person onto their side at that point)

Minor burns are defined as first-degree burns and any second-degree burns that extend over an area of skin no larger than 3 inches. In a first-degree burn, the skin is red and may be swollen and somewhat painful. If blisters are present, it's considered a second-degree burn. Don't use ice water, ice, butter, and oil on a burn. These substances can damage the skin. Instead, for minor burns, soak the area in cool water. When the burn is cool, put an antibiotic ointment on the wound and cover it with a dry, sterile gauze (not fluffy cotton) bandage. The burn should heal in 2 weeks. Change the dressing every day and watch for any signs of infection. More serious burns are a medical emergency and should be treated right away in the ER.