First aid before the ambulance arrives: what you can do and what the law requires
Steps based on the Czech Red Cross standards: resuscitation, severe bleeding, burns, fractures, hypothermia and gas poisoning. With emergency numbers and the Criminal Code provision.
An ambulance may arrive within minutes, but the first minutes depend on the person next to the casualty. Here is an overview of what a layperson can do under the Czech Red Cross standards, and what the law in Czechia requires.
The law: helping is a duty
Anyone who fails to give necessary help to a person in danger of death or showing signs of a serious health disorder, although they can do so without danger to themselves or another person, is punishable by imprisonment of up to two years (Act No. 40/2009 Coll., Section 150(1)). You do not have to risk your own life. First make sure there is no danger to you or the casualty, and call for help.
Who to call
The single European emergency number is 112, and the national numbers are 150 (fire brigade), 155 (rescue service) and 158 (police) (Act No. 239/2000 Coll., Section 7(7)(a)). Number 155 is the national emergency number of the medical rescue service (Act No. 374/2011 Coll., Section 3(c)).
A person does not respond and is not breathing normally
- Speak to the person and gently shake them. If there is no response, call someone to help, carefully lay the person on their back, tilt the head back and lift the chin.
- Check whether they are breathing normally. If you are in doubt, call the emergency line. If a defibrillator (AED) is nearby, have someone bring it.
- Kneel down, place the heel of one hand on the middle of the chest and the other hand on top, arms straight at the elbows. Press at least 100 times a minute (no more than 120), 5 to 6 cm deep, and let the chest come back up.
- Do not stop until the ambulance arrives or the person recovers (moves, opens their eyes, breathes normally).
- If you are trained and willing, give 2 breaths after every 30 compressions (no longer than 5 seconds per attempt). Rescue breaths are not given in case of poisoning by caustic substances or poisons.
Severe external bleeding
- Sit or lay the casualty down, press hard on the bleeding wound (wearing a glove, if you have one) and apply a pressure bandage if needed.
- Raising the limb and pressing pressure points are ineffective and should not be used.
- A tourniquet is a last resort, only when pressing does not stop the bleeding, preferably in the hands of a trained rescuer. It is applied above the wound on the arm or thigh, is not loosened, and the time it was applied is written down. A badly tightened tourniquet makes the bleeding worse.
Burns
- Stop the heat: in case of scalding take off clothing, and put out burning clothing. Do not remove anything stuck firmly.
- Cool with cool water at 15 to 25 °C: a small area until the pain eases, at least 10 minutes. Large burns (over 20 %) only briefly and once.
- Cover with sterile material, otherwise a clean cloth, and remove bracelets, rings and earrings.
- Do not use ice or ice packs, do not pop blisters, and do not apply ointments, powders or disinfectant.
Fractures and limb injuries
- Stop visible bleeding and do not put weight on the limb.
- Check blood supply, movement and sensation. With serious signs (deformity, a pale and cold limb, no ability to bear weight) call the ambulance.
- If the ambulance is not available, use an improvised rigid, softly padded splint that covers the joint above and below the fracture.
- Ice only through cloth, no longer than 20 minutes at a time. Do not straighten fractures or put joints back in place.
Hypothermia
- Hypothermia means a body temperature below 35 °C. Mild hypothermia shows as shivering, severe hypothermia as drowsiness, apathy and a slow pulse.
- In mild hypothermia warm the person passively with a warm blanket or clothing, if needed together with an isothermal foil. Warm drinks are allowed.
- In severe hypothermia handle the person as little as possible, warm them with heat sources (a hot-water bottle) and insulate them from the ground. Take off wet clothing.
- Do not give alcohol, do not move the limbs and do not make the person walk.
Gas poisoning, especially carbon monoxide
First make sure there is no danger to you. Before entering the affected space, open windows and doors, carry the casualty into fresh air as quickly as possible and call the ambulance. If the person is unconscious, follow the standard for unconsciousness; if conscious, put them in a comfortable position and watch them until the ambulance arrives. The start of carbon monoxide poisoning shows as headache, nausea and vomiting, later weakness, shortness of breath and loss of consciousness.
The steps are based on the Czech Red Cross First Aid Standards (2023 edition, chapters 2. 1., 2. 5., 4. 2., 5. 1., 5. 4. and 7. 2.). This is general information and does not replace a first-aid course or a doctor. Take a course before you need it.