What first aid skills should every household know?

Every household should know how to control bleeding with direct pressure and a tourniquet, perform CPR, use an AED, treat burns, recognize stroke and heart attack symptoms, and manage choking. These cover the most common life-threatening situations.

What should be in a household first aid kit?

A complete household kit includes wound care supplies (gauze, bandages, tape, antiseptic), a tourniquet, burn gel, a CPR mask, nitrile gloves, an emergency blanket, scissors, tweezers, a thermometer, and a reference guide. Inspect and restock annually.

How do I learn first aid at home?

The American Red Cross First Aid/CPR/AED course covers the core skills in one day and is available in-person and online. Supplementing with a household first aid reference guide and annual skill practice keeps knowledge current.

Home Self-reliance First Aid

Self-reliance · First Aid

Know what to do.
Before you need to.

A calm, complete first aid reference, organized by situation, written without alarm. From a minor cut at the kitchen counter to a life-threatening emergency on the trail, everything a prepared household should know.

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By Dan Whelan, founder of New World Survival

Researched from government agencies, university extension services, and other published sources. See our sources

The complete guide

Every topic, organized for quick access.

Browse by topic or follow the guide in order. Each section is self-contained.

Before the emergency

First aid is the response. Medical preparedness is the plan.

First aid covers what to do in the moment. Medical preparedness covers what keeps a household's ongoing health needs met when pharmacies, power, and clinics are disrupted.

Medical Preparedness

Medications, devices, records, and healthcare access when normal systems pause.

Build a Household Medical Profile

The written record of each person's conditions, medicines, allergies, and providers.

Prescription Preparedness

Keeping daily medicines available when pharmacies close.

Medical Devices and Power

Backup power for CPAP, oxygen, and other equipment.

Medical Bag and Supplies

The medical supplies that sit beside your first aid kit.

Chronic Conditions

Planning for diabetes, heart disease, COPD, and more.

This guide is part of When Health Is the Worry, which gathers all the guides for this concern in one place.

Know what to do.
Before you need to.

Every topic, organized for quick access.

First Aid Kits & OTC Medications

Psychological First Aid & 8-Step Method

Life-Threatening Emergencies

Bleeding Control & Wound Care

Burns & Electrical Injuries

Musculoskeletal Injuries

Head, Dental & Environmental Emergencies

Bites, Stings & Outdoor Hazards

Eyes, Breathing & Common Situations

Drowning, Water Emergencies & Recovery Position

Home Readiness & Quick Reference

First aid is the response. Medical preparedness is the plan.