First aid - good to know
No matter what kind of emergency or situation it is, the most important points to remember are:
- 112 - the emergency number
- Protect yourself!
112 - the emergency number
This number connects you to the local integrated dispatch center - anywhere in Europe! Calls are free from any phone - even if you do not have a landline. You can also make an emergency call from a mobile phone!
The dispatch center will need some information from you. These are known as the W questions:
- Where did it happen? Give the location as precisely as possible (street, house number, floor, special features such as in a backyard; if outdoors, give markers like distance points on roads, rivers, railway lines, etc.). If possible, position someone to guide the ambulance, especially for hard-to-find locations.
- Who is calling? Give your name, your location and a phone number for callbacks.
- What happened? Briefly describe the incident.
- How many people are affected? Who is affected? Say how many people are involved and what type of injuries or emergency there are. For children, give an estimated age.
- Wait for follow-up questions: Don't hang up right away. Wait for follow-up questions from the dispatch center. They can also give you instructions for caring for the patient(s) and guide you through CPR if needed.
Self-protection
Make sure you protect yourself from possible dangers, because an injured helper may no longer be able to provide assistance. This includes protecting yourself by using disposable gloves and a face mask or, for example, putting on a high-visibility vest and securing the scene of a road accident. Self-protection also means not putting yourself in danger due to the situation.
Tip: A pair of disposable gloves fits perfectly into the yellow plastic egg from a Kinder Surprise. That way the gloves stay protected and can easily be put in your pocket.
No home remedies!
Another important point:
Please do not use so-called home remedies! A lot of supposedly good advice is circulating - for example, about what to apply to wounds, what is supposed to help people in cases of suspected stroke, heart attack, and the like, what to make the affected person swallow for each type of poisoning, whether to induce vomiting, and so on ...
Please, please keep your hands off it!
Putting substances on wounds (fat, flour and whatever else is suggested) can make the situation worse and cause inflammation. These materials first have to be painstakingly removed by a doctor before the wound can be properly treated, which is often painful and can enlarge the wound. The same applies to spray-on bandages!
Do not give people experiencing a medical emergency anything to eat or drink, and under no circumstances give anything orally to anyone with impaired consciousness or who is unconscious. In cases of impaired consciousness, unconsciousness, a possible stroke or similar conditions, this is life-threatening because the person may be unable to swallow properly and whatever is administered could obstruct their airway. This can result in respiratory arrest. Even with other injuries, however, allowing the person to eat or drink may be harmful because they could vomit or this could make further medical treatment more difficult, for example, a potentially necessary operation.
If someone has been poisoned by ingesting a toxic substance, do not make them vomit. If they vomit on their own, assist them (protect yourself!) and collect any vomit so the substance can be identified. However, do not induce vomiting, because this can cause a second chemical burn to the esophagus or lead to inhalation of vomit into the airways, which can affect the respiratory organs. If the person is fully conscious, let them sip small amounts of water or tea to dilute the poison. Calling emergency services immediately is mandatory.
Sources:
This article is from Tensana – the leading app since 2011, helping hundreds of thousands of people monitor their blood pressure every day.
Our content is based on carefully researched, evidence-based data and is continuously updated (as of 02/2026).
Author Sabine Croci is a qualified medical assistant with many years of experience in internal medicine and cardiology practices as well as outpatient care, and has headed the specialist editorial team at Tensana since 2015. Thanks to her extensive additional qualifications as an emergency medical technician, first responder, and in various areas of therapy and emergency care, she provides well-founded, practical, and reliably verified information.
Author Sabine Croci is a qualified medical assistant with many years of experience in internal medicine and cardiology practices as well as outpatient care, and has headed the specialist editorial team at Tensana since 2015. Thanks to her extensive additional qualifications as an emergency medical technician, first responder, and in various areas of therapy and emergency care, she provides well-founded, practical, and reliably verified information.
