2020 American Heart Association and American Red Cross
Focused Update for
First Aid
The Evidence
Systematic reviews are conducted
by the International Liaison
Committee on Resuscitation
First Aid Task Force.
These studies are translated to
make evidence-based
guidelines for North American
first aid providers.
Recommendations for First Aid Providers
Stroke
Activate emergency
services for possible
stroke when assessing
an individual with any
of the following:Facial droop Weakness in one arm
or one side
Speech disturbance
Chest Pain
Activate emergency
services for non-
traumatic chest
pain, and encourage
alert adults to
Chew and swallow
162 to 324 mg aspirin
unless
Allergic to aspirin or
advised not to take it by
healthcare provider
Bleeding
For treatment of
life-threatening
bleeding, perform
the following: Apply a tourniquet ASAP to a life-
threatening extremity bleeding
or to bleeding that cannot be
controlled with direct pressure.
Apply direct pressure
(with hemostatic
dressing) if a tourniquet
cannot be used, or until
a tourniquet is available.
Hyperthermia
Cold-water, whole-
body immersion
is most effective
at treating people
with hyperthermia
or heatstroke.
Initiate ASAP, and continue
until a temperature of ≤39°C
(102.2°F) is reached or until
symptoms resolve.
If immersion
not available
Ice packs, cold showers,
and fanning may also
be used.
Hypoglycemia
Give oral glucose to
adults and children
with suspected
hypoglycemia.
Activate emergency
services if symptoms
worsen or if they
don’t resolve within
10 minutes.
Tooth Avulsion
If emergency replantation
is not available, transport
the tooth in a balanced
salt solution or wrapped
in cling film.
Cow’s milk or
saliva may also
be considered.
Don’t store in
tap water.
Infographic by Andy Tolmie, MD candidate.
Template designed by Sparsh Shah, MD.
Edited by Sparsh Shah; Alvin Chin, MD,
MSc; and Comilla Sasson, MD, PhD.
Guidelines provided by
CPR.heart.org KJ-1459 09/20 © 2020 American Heart Association