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The Bystander's Pocket Guide

What to do in the first few minutes of an emergency — for anyone, no medical training needed.

by Thomas Sutton · Instructor authorized to teach American Heart Association courses · Sutton Health & Safety

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Do this firstTap and shout. No response, no normal breathing? Call 911 now (or point at one person: "You, call 911"), and put it on speaker.

Push hard and fast

Heel of your hand in the center of the chest, other hand on top. Push down about 2 inches, about twice a second, and let the chest come all the way back up each time. Push to the beat of "Stayin' Alive."

Don't stop

Keep going until they move, someone takes over, or an AED arrives. You can't make it worse — doing something beats doing nothing.

Sutton Health & Safety Training
Instructor authorized to teach American Heart Association courses · Official AHA cards issued after successful completion · Free class-planning call anytime.

Adult & child (over 1 year)

Ask "Are you choking?" If they can't cough, talk, or breathe: 5 firm back blows between the shoulder blades, then 5 abdominal thrusts just above the belly button. Keep alternating 5 and 5 until it clears. Call 911.

Baby (under 1 year)

Face-down along your forearm, 5 back blows between the shoulder blades. Flip face-up, 5 chest thrusts with two fingers. Repeat. Never do abdominal thrusts on a baby.

If they go limpLower them down, call 911, and start CPR — push hard and fast in the center of the chest.

Sutton Health & Safety Training
Instructor authorized to teach American Heart Association courses · Official AHA cards issued after successful completion · Free class-planning call anytime.

Turn it on and do exactly what the voice says.
Bare and dry the chest. Stick the pads on bare skin exactly where they're pictured (upper right, lower left).
Let it check. "Don't touch the patient" — make sure no one is touching them while it reads the heart.
Shock if told, make sure everyone's clear, press the button, then go right back to CPR.

Good to knowThe AED will not shock a normal heart. Following its voice is always the safe move.

Sutton Health & Safety Training
Instructor authorized to teach American Heart Association courses · Official AHA cards issued after successful completion · Free class-planning call anytime.

Stop severe bleeding

Call 911. Press firmly right on the wound with a clean cloth and don't let up. If blood soaks through, add more on top — don't remove the first layer. For an arm or leg that won't stop, a tourniquet high and tight can save a life if you have one and know how.

Severe allergic reaction

After a food, sting, or medicine: trouble breathing, swelling of the face or throat, hives, or feeling faint. Help them use their own epinephrine (EpiPen) into the outer thigh, then call 911 — every time, even if they feel better.

Sutton Health & Safety Training
Instructor authorized to teach American Heart Association courses · Official AHA cards issued after successful completion · Free class-planning call anytime.

When you call 911

Where you are (address + nearest cross-street, floor, or landmark) · what happened · how many are hurt · what you're doing now. Put it on speaker and stay on the line until they tell you to hang up.

Before help arrives — 5 things anyone can do

1) Make the scene safe and call 911. 2) Start hands-only CPR and get the AED. 3) Help with choking or press on bleeding. 4) Tell 911 exactly where you are. 5) Spot the danger early — chest pain, stroke signs, a bad allergic reaction.

The real thing sticks in your handsA poster is a start. A hands-on class is where this becomes something you can actually do. I come to you — book a free planning call at suttonhealthsafety.com or call (201) 357-0156.

Sutton Health & Safety Training
Instructor authorized to teach American Heart Association courses · Official AHA cards issued after successful completion · Free class-planning call anytime.