First aid: keep the scene safe, call 911 and follow instructions

A simple emergency sequence for bystanders: protect yourself, get help, follow the dispatcher and act within your training.

Adapted from a guide first written for Quebec readers: passages specific to Quebec were removed. Rules in your province may differ.

In a serious emergency, get professional help and avoid creating another casualty. This page is not a first-aid course and cannot assess an injury remotely. If someone’s life may be in danger, call 911 and follow the dispatcher’s instructions.

A basic response sequence

1. Check the scene. Do not enter traffic, fire, electrical hazards, violence or another unsafe area.
2. Call 911. Give the exact location, a callback number and a short description. Stay on the line and answer questions; the dispatcher may coach you until help arrives.
3. Describe what you see. Tell the dispatcher whether the person is conscious, breathing normally or seriously injured. Ask someone to bring an automated external defibrillator if one is nearby.
4. Follow instructions. Provide only care you are trained and able to give. Do not move someone with a possible serious neck or back injury unless there is immediate danger.
5. Hand over information. Tell responders what you observed, when it began, what changed and any first aid provided.

Consider taking an accredited first-aid and CPR course and refreshing it regularly. Hands-on practice cannot be replaced by a webpage.

Sources and limits

This is general orientation, not a substitute for training, emergency dispatch or clinical advice.

General information based on federal and national rules; provincial rules may differ. Confirm with the official body before acting.