Emergency How-To Guides
Step-by-step instructions for emergency situations
Medical Emergencies
8 guides
Do CPR
Help someone in shock
Stop severe bleeding
Help someone choking
Treat hypothermia
Help someone having a seizure
Treat allergic reactions
Move an injured person safely
Safety & Utilities
6 guides
Use a fire extinguisher (PASS)
Safely shut off gas
Treat a burn
Signal for help/rescue
Treat poisoning/overdose
Purify water in emergencies
Weather Emergencies
7 guides
Stay safe during flooding/storm surge
Stay safe during lightning
Treat heat exhaustion
Prepare for extreme heat
Survive in a car during flooding
Hurricane safety
Wildfire safety and evacuation
Regional Safety
5 guides
Alligator safety
Red tide safety
Escape a rip current
Sinkhole warning signs
Tornado safety
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How to Use a Fire Extinguisher (PASS)
Important! Remember the word PASS to use a fire extinguisher safely. Make sure you have a clear escape path behind you!
P - PULL the pin
- Pull the pin at the top of the extinguisher
- This breaks the tamper seal
A - AIM low
- Point the nozzle or horn at the base of the fire
- Stay 6-8 feet away from the fire
- Keep the extinguisher in an upright position
S - SQUEEZE the handle
- Squeeze the handle or lever slowly and evenly
- This releases the extinguishing agent
S - SWEEP from side to side
- Sweep the nozzle from side to side
- Aim at the base of the fire
- Move closer as the fire gets smaller
- Keep going until the fire is completely out
Remember: Only use on small, contained fires. If the fire is too big or spreading, evacuate immediately and call 911!
How to Do CPR
Important! If someone is not breathing and not moving, you need to act fast.
1. Check if they are okay
- Tap their shoulder and shout: "Are you okay?"
- If they don't move or answer, call 911 (or tell someone else to call)
2. Open Their Airway
- Tilt their head back a little by lifting their chin
- Look, listen, and feel for breathing
3. Start Chest Compressions
- Put your hands in the middle of their chest
- Push hard and fast (like pressing a big button)
- Push down about 2 inches deep
- Do this 100 to 120 times per minute (like the beat of "Stayin' Alive" 🎵)
4. Give Rescue Breaths (If Trained)
- After 30 pushes, pinch their nose
- Breathe into their mouth (just enough to make their chest rise)
- Give 2 breaths, then go back to pushing on the chest
5. Keep Going Until Help Arrives!
- Don't stop until the person wakes up or help arrives
- If someone brings an AED (a special machine), use it by following the instructions on it
Remember: If you don't know how to give breaths, just keep doing chest pushes! Doing something is always better than doing nothing.
How to Help Someone in Shock
Important! Shock happens when a person's body isn't getting enough blood flow. This can be very dangerous!
1. Call 911!
- Get help fast by calling 911 or asking someone else to do it
2. Lay Them Down
- Help them lie down on their back
- Lift their legs about 12 inches (if they aren't hurt)
- This helps blood flow back to their heart
3. Keep Them Warm
- Cover them with a blanket or jacket
- Shock can make them feel cold, even if it's warm outside
4. Loosen Tight Clothes
- If their clothes are too tight, loosen them so they can breathe better
5. Don't Give Them Food or Water
- They might choke, so it's best to wait for medical help
6. Stay with Them
- Talk to them and help them stay calm
- Watch their breathing. If they stop breathing, start CPR!
Remember: Stay calm and keep them comfortable. Help is on the way!
How to Stop Severe Bleeding
Important! Severe bleeding can be life-threatening. Act quickly but stay calm.
1. Call 911 immediately
- Get professional help on the way first
2. Apply Direct Pressure
- Use a clean cloth or gauze pad
- Press firmly on the wound
- Keep constant pressure - don't keep checking
3. Elevate the Injury
- If possible, raise the injured area above the heart
- This helps slow down bleeding
4. Add More Layers
- Don't remove the first cloth if it soaks through
- Add more layers on top
- Keep applying firm pressure
5. Use a Tourniquet (If Available and Trained)
- Only for life-threatening limb bleeding
- Place it 2-3 inches above the wound
- Note the time you applied it
6. Keep the Person Still
- Help them lie down
- Keep them warm
- Stay with them until help arrives
Remember: Constant pressure saves lives. Don't give up!
How to Help Someone Who is Choking
Important! If someone is choking and can't breathe, cough, or speak, act fast!
1. Ask First
- Ask "Are you choking?"
- If they nod yes, tell them you're going to help
2. Give 5 Back Blows
- Bend them forward at the waist
- Give 5 quick, hard blows between shoulder blades
- Use the heel of your hand
3. Do 5 Abdominal Thrusts (Heimlich Maneuver)
- Stand behind the person
- Wrap your arms around their waist
- Make a fist with one hand
- Place it just above their navel
- Grab your fist with your other hand
- Give quick, upward thrusts
4. Repeat if Needed
- Keep alternating between 5 back blows and 5 abdominal thrusts
- Continue until the object comes out or the person becomes unconscious
5. If Person Becomes Unconscious
- Carefully lower them to the ground
- Start CPR
- Call 911 if not already done
Remember: For pregnant women or large people, give chest thrusts instead of abdominal thrusts!
How to Treat Heat Exhaustion
Important! Heat exhaustion can quickly become dangerous. Look for heavy sweating, weakness, cold/clammy skin, fast/weak pulse, nausea, or fainting.
1. Move to a Cool Place
- Get out of the sun immediately
- Find air conditioning if possible
- At minimum, find shade
2. Loosen Clothing
- Remove any unnecessary clothing
- Loosen tight clothing that might trap heat
3. Cool Down
- Apply cool, wet cloths to body
- Use fans if available
- Take a cool shower or bath if possible
4. Hydrate
- Sip water slowly
- Avoid alcohol or caffeine
- Sports drinks can help replace salt and minerals
5. Monitor Closely
- Check temperature if possible
- Watch for worsening symptoms
6. Seek Medical Help If:
- Vomiting occurs
- Symptoms get worse
- Symptoms last longer than 1 hour
Warning: If person has a high temperature (above 103°F), confusion, or hot/dry skin, this might be heat stroke - call 911 immediately!
How to Treat a Burn
Important! The right first aid for burns depends on how serious they are.
1. Stop the Burning
- Remove person from heat source
- Remove smoldering clothing unless stuck to skin
- Remove jewelry/tight items before swelling
2. Determine Burn Severity
- Minor (1st degree): Red, non-blistered skin (like mild sunburn)
- Moderate (2nd degree): Blisters and some thickening of skin, very painful
- Severe (3rd degree): White or charred, may not be painful due to nerve damage
3. Cool the Burn
- For minor burns: Hold under cool (not cold) running water
- Cool for at least 10 minutes
- Don't use ice!
4. Protect the Burn
- Cover loosely with sterile gauze
- Don't pop blisters
- Don't apply butter or ointments
5. When to Get Help - Call 911 for:
- Large or deep burns
- Burns on face, hands, feet, or genitals
- Chemical or electrical burns
- Difficulty breathing
- Signs of infection
6. Pain Management
- Take over-the-counter pain medication
- Keep burn elevated if possible
- Seek medical attention if pain is severe
Remember: Cool water first, then protect the burn. Never use ice or butter!
How to Safely Shut Off Gas
Important! If you smell gas (like rotten eggs) or hear hissing, get everyone out immediately and call 911 from a safe location.
1. Find Your Gas Meter
- Look outside near the street or side of your house
- It's usually a metal box with pipes going into your home
- The shutoff valve looks like a small lever or wheel
2. Get the Right Tool
- You need a wrench or pliers (keep one tied to the meter)
- Some newer meters have hand-turn valves
- Do NOT use anything that could create sparks
3. Turn Off the Gas
- Turn the valve 1/4 turn (90 degrees) until it's sideways to the pipe
- If it's a wheel, turn it clockwise (righty-tighty)
- You should feel it stop - don't force it
4. Check That It's Off
- The valve handle should now be perpendicular (sideways) to the pipe
- You should not hear any hissing sounds
- Mark it with tape or chalk so others know it's off
5. Call the Gas Company
- Only trained professionals should turn gas back on
- Call your gas company's emergency number
- Do NOT try to turn it back on yourself - this can be deadly
Remember: When in doubt, turn it off! It's better to be safe and call professionals than risk an explosion.
How to Stay Safe During Flooding/Storm Surge
Important! Whether it's river flooding or ocean storm surge, moving water is extremely dangerous and can kill you in minutes!
1. Get to Higher Ground Now
- Move to the highest floor of a sturdy building
- If outside, get to the highest ground you can find
- Stay away from storm drains and low-lying areas
2. Never Drive Through Flood Water
- Turn around, don't drown - find another route
- Just 6 inches of moving water can knock you down
- 12 inches of water can carry away a car
3. Stay Away from Moving Water
- Don't walk, swim, or play in flood water
- Moving water is much stronger than it looks
- Flood water contains dangerous debris and sewage
4. If Water Enters Your Home
- Get to the highest floor immediately
- Call 911 and tell them your location
- Signal for help from windows or roof if needed
5. After the Water Goes Down
- Don't return until authorities say it's safe
- Watch for downed power lines in standing water
- Don't drink or use flood water - it's contaminated
Remember: Storm surge can rise 20+ feet in minutes. Flood water only needs to be ankle deep to be deadly if it's moving fast!
Alligator Safety
Important! Alligators are common in Florida waters and can move faster than you think. Keep your distance and stay alert!
1. Stay Away from Water Edges
- Keep at least 20 feet away from any water where gators might live
- Don't let pets or children play near water's edge
- Alligators can lunge up to half their body length onto land
2. Never Feed Alligators
- Feeding gators is illegal and makes them associate people with food
- Fed gators lose their fear of humans and become dangerous
- Keep food and fish scraps away from water
3. If You See One
- Back away slowly and calmly
- Do NOT run in zigzags - that's a myth
- Make yourself look big and make noise to scare it away
4. If One Approaches You
- Run straight away as fast as you can
- Alligators rarely chase people on land
- Get to higher ground or behind a barrier if possible
5. If Attacked (Rare)
- Fight back with everything you have
- Hit the eyes and nose - their most sensitive spots
- Make as much noise as possible to get help
Remember: Alligators are usually afraid of people. Most attacks happen when people get too close or try to feed them.
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