- Health and safety
- Classes 6-8
- 4 min read
First aid basics
Learn what first aid means, why we tell an adult first, and what to do for small scrapes, minor burns and nosebleeds.
Let us begin
The big idea
First aid is the first help given to someone who is hurt before a doctor or grown-up takes over. The most important rule is: stay calm and tell an adult first. Here you will learn how to help safely.
Stay calm and keep yourself safe. Tell an adult at once, even for a small injury. Never put yourself in danger to help.
Small scrape or cut: with an adult, wash the area with clean water, then cover it with a clean dressing.
Minor burn: with an adult, cool the burn under running tap water for several minutes. Do not use ice.
Nosebleed: sit up, lean slightly forward and pinch the soft part of the nose for about 10 minutes. Do not tilt your head back.
Call 112, the emergency number in India, or ask your adult to, if the injury is serious. Examples: bleeding that does not stop, a bad burn, a hit on the head, trouble breathing, or someone who cannot move or does not wake up. Do not move a badly hurt person. Do not put creams, ointments or home remedies on injuries, and do not give medicines. An adult will decide what to do. Know your home address and an adult's phone number.
Worked examples
See how it works
A scraped knee
Tara falls and scrapes her knee. She tells an adult. They wash it with clean water and cover it with a clean dressing.
A minor burn
Rohan touches a warm pan and his finger feels sore. He tells an adult at once. The adult holds the finger under cool running tap water for several minutes.
A nosebleed
Meena has a nosebleed. She sits up and leans slightly forward. She pinches the soft part of her nose for about 10 minutes. She does not tilt her head back.
A serious fall
A child falls from a swing and cannot get up. Do not move the child. Tell an adult and call 112. Say where you are and what happened.
Try it at home
My first aid card
You will need
- A sheet of paper
- A pencil
- Crayons
What to do
- Fold the paper in half to make a card.
- On the front write FIRST AID and draw a simple plus sign.
- Inside, write the four steps: stay calm, tell an adult, help safely, call 112 if serious.
- Write your home address and an adult's phone number, if the adult agrees.
- Keep the card in a safe place with an adult.
Ask a grown-up: An adult should keep the family first aid box, choose what goes in it and decide when medical help is needed. This activity needs no medicines or sharp things.
Practice sheet
Check what you learned
Practice sheet: First aid basics (Classes 6-8, Health and safety)
- Whom do you tell first when someone is hurt?
- What is the emergency number in India?
- What should be done for a small scrape, with an adult's help?
- What should be done for a minor burn, with an adult's help?
- What are the steps for a nosebleed?
- During a nosebleed, should you tilt your head back?
- If someone is badly hurt, should you move them?
- Name two things to tell the person who answers 112.
- Why is it important to stay calm when giving first aid?
- Should a child put creams, ointments or home remedies on an injury, or give medicines? Who decides?
Answer key
Answers: First aid basics
- An adult, right away.
- 112.
- Wash it with clean water and cover it with a clean dressing.
- Cool it under running tap water for several minutes.
- Sit up, lean slightly forward and pinch the soft part of the nose for about 10 minutes.
- No. Lean slightly forward instead.
- No. Stay with them, tell an adult and call 112.
- Where you are and what has happened (and your name or phone number if asked).
- A calm person can think clearly and help in the right way.
- No. An adult decides, and a doctor or medical helper if needed.