Principles of first aid

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If you witness or are involved in a dangerous incident, try to remain calm and follow these rules:

  • Ensure your own safety and that of the victim. Do not move them unless necessary.
  • Assess the condition of the injured person: shake their shoulder and ask, "Can you hear me?"
  • If they respond, ask what happened.
  • Call 112 or ask someone nearby to do so – point to a specific person.


If the victim is unresponsive:

  1. Ask a specific person nearby to bring a defibrillator (AED).
  2. Check if the victim is breathing in the position they are in. Observe the movements of their chest. If necessary, loosen their clothing.
  3. If they are breathing, place them in the recovery position. Watch to see if they are breathing until the emergency services arrive.



If the victim is not breathing:

  1. Lay the victim on their back on a hard, flat surface.
  2. Kneel next to their chest.
  3. Unbutton or cut the victim's clothing so that their chest is exposed.
  4. Place one hand on the victim's forehead and the other on their chin. Tilt their head back.
  5. Open their mouth for a moment and remove any visible foreign objects.
  6. Lean over the victim and check for breathing for 10 seconds: — watch the chest to see if it rises and falls, — listen for breathing near the victim's nose, — wait for an exhalation — you will feel it on your cheek.
  7. If they are not breathing, place your hands, one on top of the other, in the middle of the victim's chest. Keep your arms straight at the elbows.
  8. Press rhythmically, firmly, and quickly: — depth of compressions: 5-6 cm, — frequency: 2 compressions per second, — after each compression, lift your hands off the sternum, leaving your fingers in contact with the chest.
  9. After 30 compressions, clear the airway again and slowly blow air into the victim's mouth twice. If you do not want to do this, continue chest compressions without interruption.
  10. When someone brings a defibrillator (AED), use it. The device will tell you what to do.
  11. Continue CPR until: — emergency responders arrive, — you see clear signs of circulation returning, such as breathing, movement, or coughing, — providing assistance becomes dangerous for you.


Call for help:

  • 999 – emergency number for the ambulance service
  • 112 – single emergency number valid throughout the European Union
  • 998 – fire department
  • 997 – police

Calls to emergency numbers are free of charge – you will not be charged for the call, regardless of its duration.

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