Glav Pozdravfirst aid in plain words

An independent first-aid reference. It is not a substitute for in-person training and is not medical advice. In a life-threatening situation, call 112 or your local emergency number.

Questions

Questions to ask a professional

This website has no doctors or instructors who answer readers, and no question form. Instead, it gathers questions that are worth asking yourself — of an in-person first-aid instructor or your own doctor. A good question helps you get an answer that fits your family, your work and your circumstances, rather than general advice from the internet.

An instructor and a doctor see what a reference cannot: your hands on the manikin and the health of your loved ones. Write your questions down in advance so you do not forget them.

— Editor's note

How this section works: these are questions worth asking a course instructor or your own doctor. We do not answer personal questions or make diagnoses; the answers below only show why a question matters and roughly what you should hear.

Before the course

How much of the class is spent on practice?

The value of a course lies in hands-on practice. Ideally you spend most of the time working on a manikin and with each other rather than listening to a lecture.

Which document is the programme based on?

The programme should follow the first-aid rules currently in force where you live — in Russia, the regulations approved by an order of the Ministry of Health. The instructor can briefly explain how it is structured.

Will we practise with a training defibrillator?

Getting to know the device in class removes the fear of it. Ask whether there is a training defibrillator and whether everyone will get to use it themselves.

How often should I repeat the course?

Skills fade without practice. The instructor will tell you when it makes sense to refresh your knowledge and where to find out about updated guidelines.

About CPR and the defibrillator

How do I know I am pressing hard enough and at the right rhythm?

The guidelines give a rate of 100–120 per minute and a depth of 5–6 cm, but you can only feel this on a manikin. Ask the instructor to check and correct you.

What if I am not willing to give rescue breaths to a stranger?

This question comes up often. The instructor will explain how to act in that situation and how to use a breathing mask or face shield.

How should I behave when the defibrillator gives instructions?

The device gives voice prompts, but under stress it is easy to get flustered. Ask to practise in class the moment when you must stand clear of the person, and the sequence of prompts.

How long should CPR continue?

It is best to hear the answer from the instructor and the call handler: CPR usually continues until the crew arrives or signs of life appear, but the details are discussed on the course.

Children, older relatives and long-term conditions — what to discuss with a doctor

How does first aid for a child differ from first aid for an adult?

There are differences, and this reference does not cover them. Ask an instructor about a course that teaches first aid for children separately, and discuss your child's own health with a paediatrician.

What signs of deterioration should I watch for in my older relative?

A doctor who knows the person can tell you which changes call for an immediate call to 112 or your local emergency number, and which can wait for an appointment.

What should I write down about a relative's long-term condition in case we call an ambulance?

Ask their doctor to help you put together a short note for the crew: which conditions, allergies and prescriptions are important to mention. Keep it somewhere easy to find.

How can I prepare the family if a relative has sudden attacks?

Discuss with the doctor what the household can do before the ambulance arrives and when to call straight away. If the doctor recommends it, take an in-person first-aid course together as a family.

  • Methods

    Adult CPR, the recovery position, dressings and cooling a burn, in general terms and never as a replacement for a course.

  • Be prepared

    How to prepare in advance: an in-person course, a home first-aid kit without medicines, and emergency numbers at hand.

  • Glossary

    Words you hear on courses and from the emergency call handler: response, breathing, compressions, defibrillator, dressing.

Sources

  • Federal Law No. 323-FZ (art. 31), Russia
  • European Resuscitation Council — Guidelines 2021

Information was checked as of the preparation date. First-aid rules and resuscitation guidelines are revised from time to time, so rely on the documents currently in force where you live and on what your in-person course instructor taught you.