The First Responder

First aid guide

What you do in the first minutes before the ambulance arrives can save a life. These are short, clear steps, written by a paramedic, so you know what to do when you are the first responder.

For any medical emergency in Saudi Arabia, call 997

01Before anything: safety, then the call

Your safety comes first. Never walk into an active hazard such as fire, traffic or electricity.

  1. Make sure the scene is safe for you and the casualty.
  2. Call out and gently tap their shoulders to check whether they respond.
  3. Call 997 on speaker and follow the dispatcher.
  4. Ask a bystander to bring an automated external defibrillator (AED) if one is nearby.

02Adult CPR

If the person does not respond and is not breathing, or is only gasping, start CPR at once.

  1. Put the heel of one hand on the centre of the chest, the other hand on top, arms straight.
  2. Push hard and fast: about 5 to 6 cm deep, 100 to 120 compressions a minute.
  3. Let the chest rise fully after each push, and keep pauses to a minimum.
  4. If trained: 30 compressions, then 2 breaths. If not trained: keep going with compressions only.
  5. When the AED arrives, switch it on and follow its voice prompts.
  6. Do not stop until the crew arrives, the person starts breathing normally, or the scene becomes unsafe.

03Choking in adults

The clearest sign: they cannot speak, cough or breathe, and often grab their throat.

  1. If they are coughing forcefully, encourage them to keep coughing. Do not hit them.
  2. If they cannot cough or speak, lean them forward and give five firm back blows between the shoulder blades.
  3. Then five abdominal thrusts: stand behind them, fist above the navel, pull sharply in and up.
  4. Alternate back blows and thrusts until the object comes out.
  5. For pregnant or larger people, use chest thrusts instead of abdominal thrusts.
  6. If they become unresponsive, call 997 and start CPR.

04Severe bleeding

Heavy bleeding can become life-threatening within minutes. Direct pressure is the core of the response.

  1. Wear gloves if available, and press firmly and directly on the wound with a clean cloth.
  2. If the dressing soaks through, do not lift it. Add more on top and keep pressing.
  3. Help the person lie down, and keep them warm and calm.
  4. Call 997 if the bleeding is heavy or does not stop.
  5. A tourniquet is for limbs only, for life-threatening bleeding, and for people trained to use one.

05Burns

Cooling early reduces the depth and pain of a burn.

  1. Cool the burn under cool or lukewarm running water for 20 minutes.
  2. Remove rings, watches and nearby clothing, unless stuck to the skin.
  3. No ice, no toothpaste, no butter and no home remedies.
  4. Cover with clean cling film or a non-stick dressing.
  5. Get medical care for large burns, burns on the face or hands, electrical or chemical burns, or burns in children.

06Stroke signs

Remember FAST: Face, Arms, Speech, Time. Every minute of delay costs brain cells.

  1. Face: one side suddenly droops when they smile.
  2. Arms: weakness or numbness in one arm, so they cannot lift both.
  3. Speech: slurred or confused speech.
  4. Time: call 997 immediately and note when the symptoms started.
  5. Give nothing to eat, drink or take by mouth.

07Recovery position

For an unresponsive person who is breathing normally, with no suspected spinal injury.

  1. Roll them onto their side, with the head tilted slightly back to keep the airway open.
  2. Keep the upper leg bent so they do not roll onto their face.
  3. Keep checking their breathing until the crew arrives, and start CPR if it stops.

08Give way to the ambulance

Seconds on the road can mean a life at the scene.

  1. Hear the siren? Slow down and check your mirrors.
  2. Move calmly to the nearest safe side, and signal.
  3. Never tail an ambulance, never stop suddenly, and never stop at accidents to film.

General awareness content. It does not replace a certified first aid course or calling emergency services. Get hands-on training with an accredited provider such as the Saudi Red Crescent Authority.

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By Haitham Kalo, paramedic · Last reviewed: November 2026