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The IFRC's 2025 guidelines advise clean running water for at least 10 minutes and ideally 20 after a thermal burn. Large, deep, facial, airway, genital, chemical and electrical burns need urgent medical care.
The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies says suspected hypothermia requires immediate access to emergency medical care. First aid should stop further cooling, replace wet clothes and warm the person gradually while monitoring breathing and responsiveness.
England's National Health Service advises stretching and massaging a cramped calf, or standing on the affected leg when it is safe to do so. One-sided swelling or pain, chest pain, breathing difficulty or fainting require medical attention rather than further home treatment.
Delayed-onset muscle soreness usually begins 12 to 24 hours after unfamiliar exercise and is often worst within 24 to 72 hours. Severe pain, weakness or dark urine needs immediate medical assessment because symptoms alone cannot rule out rhabdomyolysis.
A Cochrane review found modest short-term evidence for heat wraps in acute or subacute low back pain but too little evidence to judge cold treatment. Ice may still ease pain, but a fixed ice-first schedule is not supported by strong low-back-pain research.
The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies advised a forward lean and 10 to 15 minutes of pressure in its 2025 guidelines. Persistent bleeding, lightheadedness, breathing difficulty or bleeding after a head injury needs medical attention.
England's NHS lists salt-water nasal cleaning as one option for mild sinusitis. Evidence for acute colds remains limited, while unsafe rinse water and hot-water steam can cause harm.
The IFRC's 2025 guidelines tell bystanders to encourage an effective cough before using back blows and thrusts for choking. Infants need chest rather than abdominal thrusts, while anyone who becomes unresponsive needs CPR and emergency help.
The World Health Organization classifies heatstroke as a potentially fatal medical emergency that requires immediate medical help and rapid cooling. Cold-water immersion is the fastest field method when it can be done safely, while wetting the skin and fanning are alternatives.
Australian and English public health guidance advises gentle rinsing for loose surface debris but urgent care for chemicals, penetrating objects and high-speed injuries. A contact lens that cannot be removed safely needs professional help rather than repeated pulling.
The IFRC's 2025 first-aid guidelines recommend 15 to 20 grams of glucose for suspected hypoglycemia only when the person is responsive and can swallow. Anyone with impaired responsiveness, a seizure or unsafe swallowing needs emergency help and should receive nothing by mouth.
Australian and New Zealand resuscitation guidelines advise against paper bag rebreathing for rapid breathing or a suspected panic attack. First aid should focus on checking for an emergency, offering calm support and monitoring for deterioration.
England's NHS advises people who remain awake for around 20 minutes to leave bed, choose a quiet activity and return only when sleepy. The interval is an approximate cue, while urgent symptoms, repeated insomnia and medicine use require different decisions.
Health agencies in the United States and England advise looking at a fixed horizon, reducing head movement and stopping reading or screen use when motion sickness starts. Sudden neurological symptoms, serious dehydration or recurrent nausea away from motion require medical assessment.
England's NHS advises urgent assessment when a cough is severe or rapidly worsening, or comes with chest pain, breathing difficulty or blood. For milder symptoms, fluids and honey may offer limited relief, while sleep-position evidence applies mainly to nighttime reflux.
A 2025 systematic review found that psychological approaches reduced headache days among adults with tension-type headache, though most trials raised some risk-of-bias concerns. Heat or cold packs may help when neck pain accompanies a headache, but warning signs require medical assessment rather than home care.
England's National Health Service advises medical assessment when hiccups last longer than 48 hours or repeatedly disrupt daily life. Brief episodes usually stop on their own, while evidence for both home remedies and treatments for persistent hiccups remains limited.
People who have stopped vomiting can begin with small sips and increase fluids gradually rather than avoiding all drinks for a fixed number of hours. Food can follow when nausea eases, while dehydration, blood or green vomit, severe pain and confusion require prompt medical care.
