Before Help Arrives — Your First 5 Minutes
Sutton Health & Safety · (201) 357-0156
1
Make the scene safe, then call 911
- Look before you rush in — traffic, water, wires, anything that could make you the next patient.
- Tap the person and shout. No response and no normal breathing? Call 911 now — or point at one person and say "you, call 911."
- Put the phone on speaker so your hands stay free.
2
Start hands-only CPR & get the AED
- Push hard and fast in the center of the chest — about twice a second — and let the chest come all the way back up each time.
- Send someone for the AED. Turn it on and do exactly what it says — it talks you through every step.
- Don't stop until they move, help takes over, or you can't continue.
3
Choking, bleeding & staying clean
- Choking and can't cough, talk, or breathe: back blows between the shoulder blades, then abdominal thrusts.
- Heavy bleeding: press hard right on the wound with a cloth and keep pressing — don't peek.
- Use gloves or any barrier if you have one, but don't let that stop you from helping.
4
Tell 911 the right things
- Where you are — address plus the nearest cross-street, floor, or landmark.
- What happened, how many people, and what you're doing right now.
- Stay on the line. Don't hang up until they tell you to.
5
Catch the danger early
- Call before it gets worse: chest pain, real trouble breathing, or a face droop / slurred speech / weak arm (signs of a stroke).
- Bad allergic reaction — swelling, hives, trouble breathing — is a 911 call, not a "wait and see."
- Trust your gut. If something feels really wrong, get help on the way.
Keep this where people can see it. When you're ready to actually practice it with your hands, come take a class — that's where it sticks. — Thomas Sutton, instructor authorized to teach American Heart Association courses