The American Heart Association and the American Red Cross have updated and expanded first-aid guidelines for bystanders and emergency responders to include recommendations for managing opioid overdoses, open chest wounds, and other emergencies. The revised guidelines, published in the journal Circulation, aim to equip trained professionals and the public with lifesaving skills that are more critical than ever. The updates reflect the changing public health challenges and provide detailed guidance on scenarios such as opioid overdoses, tick bites, and when someone feels faint.
Dr. Elizabeth Hewett Brumberg, co-chair of the writing group, emphasized the importance of recognizing and prioritizing emergency care needs. The guidelines provide strategies for emergency responders and bystanders on how to recognize when someone needs professional help and when to use available tools and medications effectively. The updates cover situations involving open chest wounds, external bleeding, seizures, heatstroke, hypothermia, and more.
Dr. Matthew J. Douma, co-chair of the writing group, emphasized the importance of enrolling in a first aid class to learn how to provide emergency care. He stressed that first aid saves lives, and maintaining these skills and having a first aid kit on hand are essential. The new guidelines provide more specificity for basic first-aid topics and highlight the importance of acting within one’s abilities and showing respect for the person being helped.
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