Save 1 CPR

Three first aid essentials everyone should have.

A first aid kit is one of those things you hope you never need, but when an emergency happens, you'll be glad it's there. The key isn't having every medical supply imaginable. It's making sure you have the basics that can handle the most common injuries until additional care is available. A well-stocked first aid kit can make a big difference at home, in your car, or while traveling.

If you're starting from scratch, there are three essentials you should always have. First, plenty of adhesive bandages in a variety of sizes to cover cuts, scrapes, and blisters. Second, sterile gauze pads, which are incredibly useful for larger wounds and for helping control bleeding. Finally, rolled gauze is a great addition because it helps hold gauze pads securely in place, provides gentle compression when needed, and can be used in a variety of first aid situations. These three simple supplies are some of the items you'll reach for most often, making them a great foundation for any first aid kit. As your kit grows, you can always add additional supplies based on your family's needs and activities.

A few basic supplies today can make all the difference when an unexpected injury happens tomorrow. Being prepared is one of the simplest ways to help protect the people you care about.

When someone has severe bleeding, it's natural to want to act as quickly as possible. But one of the biggest misconceptions is that a tourniquet should always be your first response. In reality, the first step is almost always to apply direct pressure to the wound and see if the bleeding can be controlled. A tourniquet is an incredibly effective life-saving tool, but it's meant for situations where direct pressure isn't enough to stop life-threatening bleeding.

If a tourniquet becomes necessary, proper placement and application are critical. It should be placed above the wound, closer to the heart, then tightened until the bleeding stops. Many commercial tourniquets use a windlass rod, which allows you to apply enough pressure to stop the blood flow before securing it in place. Just as important is documenting the time the tourniquet was applied. Many tourniquets have a designated place to write the time, but in a real emergency that information can easily become covered by blood or clothing. That's why emergency responders often recommend writing the application time somewhere highly visible, such as on the patient's forehead with a permanent marker, so medical professionals immediately know how long the tourniquet has been in place.

Learning these skills before an emergency happens can make all the difference. At Save 1 CPR, we teach not only what to do, but why each step matters, so you'll have the confidence to respond when every second counts.

This update could save a baby's life.

When an infant is choking, every second matters, and the American Heart Association's 2025 guidelines include an important update that many people haven't heard about yet. If you learned infant choking rescue years ago, there's a good chance you were taught to use two fingers for chest thrusts. That recommendation has changed. Staying up to date on the latest techniques could make all the difference in an emergency.

If an infant is choking, always support them securely with their head lower than their body. Give five firm back slaps between the shoulder blades, then carefully turn the baby over while continuing to support the head. The new guidelines now recommend using the palm of your hand for five chest compressions instead of the older two-finger technique. Continue alternating five back slaps and five chest compressions until the object is expelled or emergency responders take over. If you can clearly see the object in the baby's mouth, carefully remove it. Never perform a blind finger sweep, as it can push the object farther into the airway.

Knowing these steps before an emergency happens can help you stay calm and respond with confidence. At Save 1 CPR, we teach the latest life-saving techniques so you'll know exactly what to do when someone is counting on you.

Could you help in an emergency?

The Heartsaver program is designed for everyday people who want to be prepared when an emergency happens. Whether you're a teacher, coach, childcare provider, office employee, security professional, parent, grandparent, or simply someone who wants to be ready to help, this course teaches the lifesaving skills you need with certification through the American Heart Association that's valid for two years.

During the class, you'll learn adult and infant CPR, how to recognize and treat choking emergencies, and how to use an AED. You can also add First Aid training, which covers a wide range of real-world emergencies, including heart attacks, strokes, seizures, bleeding, and many other situations where knowing what to do can make all the difference. At Save 1 CPR, our goal is to help you leave class with the confidence to act when every second counts. Because you never know when the person who can make a difference might be you.