This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) All Versions of this Article: 112/24_suppl/IV-196    most recent CIRCULATIONAHA.105.166575v1 Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Request Permissions Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Search for Related Content Related Collections AHA Statements and Guidelines

(Circulation. 2005;112:IV-196 – IV-203.)
© 2005 American Heart Association, Inc.

2005 American Heart Association Guidelines for Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation and Emergency Cardiovascular Care

Part 14: First Aid

	Introduction

 
The American Heart Association (AHA) and the American Red Cross (ARC) cofounded the National First Aid Science Advisory Board (Table) to review and evaluate the scientific literature on first aid. The goals of the National First Aid Science Advisory Board were to reduce morbidity and mortality due to emergency events and to analyze the scientific evidence that answers the following questions:

• What are the most common emergency conditions that lead to significant morbidity and mortality?
  
• In which of these emergency conditions can morbidity or mortality be reduced by the intervention of a first aid provider?
  
• How strong is the scientific evidence that interventions performed by a first aid provider are safe, effective, and feasible?
  

This critical review of the scientific literature resulted in a Consensus on Science for First Aid With Treatment Recommendations, from which these guidelines are derived.¹ The critical review and evaluation of the literature identified areas for future scientific research.

	Background

 
From the perspective of the 21st century, the need for first aid training seems self-evident, but the history of organized first aid spans only 120 years. There is evidence, though, that Native Americans practiced first aid and taught it. For example, Sioux medicine men of the Bear Society were noted for treating battle injuries, fixing fractures, controlling bleeding, removing arrows, and using a sharp flint to cut around wounds and inflammations.²

Modern first aid evolved from military experience when surgeons taught soldiers how to splint . . . [Full Text of this Article]