The first tenant of first aid is the dedication to the preservation of life. The primary, driving goal of all first aid is to simply preserve life wherever possible, and this cannot be overlooked. As a consequence, your first actions should be ensuring that everyone is safe from all mortal threats, though it is important to remember that that includes you – you cannot help anyone if your own life is in danger, or if doing so will endanger it. Quickly check the environment for any escalating dangers or anything that may escalate the threat to anyone, be they injured, a bystander, or yourself. If you’re unsure, retreat to a safe distance and call for help; sometimes, that’s all you can do.
