First Aid Basics and DRSABCD in Grand Rapids, Michigan

Learning basic first aid can make a critical difference in an emergency in Grand Rapids—whether you’re at home in Eastown, at a downtown event, on a trail along the Grand River, or driving during a winter storm. Knowing what to do until an ambulance arrives can help keep someone breathing, reduce pain, and limit long‑term injury.

In West Michigan, emergency medical services are strong, with nearby hospitals such as Corewell Health (formerly Spectrum Health) Butterworth Hospital, Trinity Health Grand Rapids, Metro Health – University of Michigan Health, and Mercy Health. But in the minutes before paramedics arrive, your first aid skills can be life‑saving.

Local organizations like the American Red Cross of West Michigan, Kent County Health Department, and Grand Rapids Public Health encourage residents to learn basic first aid and CPR.

Why First Aid Training Matters in Grand Rapids

Grand Rapids residents face a range of health and safety risks, including:

  • Icy sidewalks and roads in winter, leading to falls, fractures, and car crashes
  • Outdoor activities near rivers, lakes, and trails, increasing the risk of drowning, injuries, or heat‑related issues in summer
  • Chronic health conditions common in Michigan (heart disease, diabetes, respiratory issues) that can lead to sudden medical emergencies
  • Medication and drug overdoses, which remain a concern throughout the state

Taking a first aid and CPR course in Grand Rapids helps you:

  • Recognize an emergency quickly
  • Provide safe, effective first aid until EMS arrives
  • Respond confidently in homes, workplaces, schools, churches, and community events

The DRSABCD Action Plan

First aid is often summarized as ABC (Airway, Breathing, CPR), but in any emergency you should follow the full DRSABCD Action Plan:

  • D – Danger
  • R – Response
  • S – Send for help
  • A – Airway
  • B – Breathing
  • C – CPR (Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation)
  • D – Defibrillation (AED)

This simple sequence helps you stay calm and organized in stressful situations.

D – Danger

Always check for danger to:

  1. Yourself
  2. Bystanders
  3. The injured or ill person

Look for things like:

  • Traffic (common on busy Grand Rapids roads and highways)
  • Ice, snow, or slippery surfaces
  • Exposed electrical wires
  • Fire, smoke, or gas leaks
  • Violent situations or weapons

Do not put yourself at risk. If the scene is unsafe, keep a safe distance and call 911.

R – Response

Check if the person is conscious and responsive:

  • Speak to them loudly: “Are you okay?”
  • Gently squeeze their shoulder or hold their hand
  • Look for any movement, eye opening, or sounds

If they respond and can talk or move, they are conscious. Reassure them and check for injuries while you monitor their condition.

If they do not respond, treat them as unconscious and move immediately to checking their airway.

S – Send for Help (Call 911)

If the person is unresponsive, or you suspect a serious emergency:

  • Call 911 immediately
  • In busy Grand Rapids areas (like downtown, medical mile, or large events), ask a bystander to call while you start first aid
  • Stay on the line and answer all the operator’s questions
  • Follow any instructions from the 911 dispatcher (they can guide you through CPR and other steps)

If you are in a large building (office, school, church, gym), send someone to:

  • Get the nearest AED (defibrillator)
  • Guide paramedics to your exact location

A – Airway

If the person is unconscious, you must check their airway:

  1. Open their mouth and look inside.
  2. If the mouth is clear:
    • Gently tilt their head back by lifting the chin (head‑tilt, chin‑lift).
  3. If the mouth is not clear (vomit, blood, food, or other objects):
    • Carefully roll the person onto their side.
    • Open their mouth and clear any visible material with your fingers (only what you can see and reach).
    • Roll them back onto their back and re‑tilt the head to open the airway.

Maintaining a clear, open airway is always the first priority.

B – Breathing

After opening the airway, check for normal breathing:

  • Look for chest movement (up and down).
  • Listen by putting your ear near their mouth and nose.
  • Feel for breath on your cheek or for chest movement with your hand on their lower chest.

Do this for no more than 10 seconds.

If the person is unconscious but breathing

  • Carefully roll them onto their side (recovery position).
  • Keep their head, neck, and spine aligned, especially if you suspect a fall, car accident, or sports injury.
  • Tilt their head slightly back to keep the airway open.
  • Monitor their breathing continuously until EMS or ambulance officers from a Grand Rapids hospital take over.

If the person is not breathing normally

  • Treat them as not breathing and start CPR immediately.

C – CPR (Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation)

If an adult is unconscious and not breathing normally:

  1. Make sure they are lying flat on their back on a firm surface.
  2. Place the heel of one hand in the center of their chest (on the breastbone).
  3. Place your other hand on top, interlocking your fingers.
  4. Keep your arms straight and shoulders directly over your hands.
  5. Press down firmly and smoothly, compressing the chest about one‑third of its depth, 30 times.

Compression–Breath Ratio: 30:2

After 30 compressions:

  1. Gently tilt the head back and lift the chin.
  2. Pinch the nostrils closed.
  3. Place your open mouth firmly over theirs to create a seal.
  4. Give two steady breaths, watching for the chest to rise.

Continue cycles of:

  • 30 compressions
  • 2 breaths

Aim for about 5 cycles in 2 minutes, and keep going until:

  • The person starts breathing normally,
  • Another trained person or EMS takes over, or
  • You are physically unable to continue.

CPR for children and babies

The basic principles are similar, but:

  • Use less force and different hand positions.
  • For infants, use two fingers instead of two hands.

Because this is more specialized, it is strongly recommended to take a CPR course in Grand Rapids to learn child and infant CPR properly.

D – Defibrillation (AED)

For unconscious adults who are not breathing, use an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) if one is available. In Grand Rapids, AEDs are often found in:

  • Schools and universities
  • Gyms and fitness centers
  • Large churches
  • Office buildings
  • Public facilities and some city buildings

Using an AED

AEDs are designed for everyday people to use:

  1. Turn the AED on.
  2. Follow the voice prompts and pictures on the device and pad packaging.
  3. Attach the pads exactly as shown.
  4. Make sure no one is touching the person when the AED analyzes or delivers a shock.

If the person responds to defibrillation (begins to breathe, move, or show signs of life):

  • Turn them gently onto their side.
  • Tilt their head slightly back to maintain an open airway.
  • Continue to monitor their breathing until EMS arrives.

Some AEDs have special pediatric pads and instructions; always follow the device’s guidance.

First Aid and CPR Training in Grand Rapids, MI

There is no age limit to learning CPR, and many West Michigan schools include CPR as part of high school health or first aid courses. Your ability to perform CPR is only limited by your physical capabilities, not your age.

You can find first aid and CPR courses in Grand Rapids through:

  • American Red Cross of West Michigan
  • Local hospitals (such as Corewell Health, Trinity Health Grand Rapids, Metro Health)
  • Community education programs and some workplaces
  • Local EMS or fire departments that offer community CPR training

CPR is a life skill that everyone in the Grand Rapids community can benefit from learning.

Infection Control During CPR in Grand Rapids

To reduce the risk of infection from blood, saliva, or other bodily fluids:

  • People trained in resuscitation are encouraged to carry a resuscitation mask (CPR face shield) in their purse, wallet, car, or first aid kit.
  • These masks are available from first aid providers, local pharmacies, and online.

Using a mask can make it easier to provide lifesaving breaths without worrying about infection. Remember:

  • Any CPR is better than no CPR in a life‑threatening emergency.

First Aid Kits for Grand Rapids Homes, Cars, and Workplaces

Every home, workplace, and vehicle in Grand Rapids should have a well‑stocked, organized first aid kit that is:

  • Easy to access
  • Clearly labeled
  • Regularly checked and restocked

Consider having multiple kits:

  • At home (kitchen or central location)
  • In your car (especially important in Michigan winters)
  • At work
  • In recreational vehicles, boats, or cottages along the lakes

The contents should match your environment and activities—for example:

  • Extra thermal blankets and hand warmers for winter travel
  • Supplies for cuts, sprains, and minor burns
  • A CPR mask and disposable gloves

First aid kits are available from:

  • American Red Cross
  • Pharmacies throughout Grand Rapids and Kent County
  • Online medical suppliers

Specialty kits are available for workplaces, sports teams, and outdoor activities.

Reducing Infection Risk in Open Wounds

Open wounds are common in everyday life—especially with yard work, construction, sports, and winter falls. They are prone to infection, so proper first aid is essential.

Steps to reduce infection risk

  • Wash your hands before treating a wound, if possible.
  • If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol‑based hand sanitizer.
  • Put on disposable gloves from your first aid kit.
  • Avoid breathing or coughing directly over the wound.

How you clean the wound depends on:

  • The type of wound (cut, scrape, puncture)
  • The severity of the wound
  • The amount of bleeding

You may only be able to clean around the wound if it is deep or heavily bleeding.

Covering the wound

  • Use a sterile dressing from your first aid kit.
  • Try not to touch the surface of the dressing that will contact the wound.
  • Secure it with tape or a bandage.

If there is heavy bleeding, do not waste time on detailed cleaning:

  • Immediately apply firm, direct pressure to the wound (or around it if there is an embedded object).
  • Once bleeding slows or stops, apply a bandage.
  • Call 911 immediately for severe bleeding.

Using Bandages Safely During First Aid

Bandaging helps:

  • Control bleeding
  • Protect the wound from infection
  • Support injured limbs and joints

General tips:

  • Have the injured person sitting or lying down.
  • Position yourself in front of the person on the injured side.
  • Support the injured body part before you start bandaging.

If the injured person can help:

  1. Ask them to hold padding over the wound.
  2. Wrap the tail of the bandage one full turn around the limb to anchor it.

If there is no assistance:

  • Wrap the bandage directly around the padding over the wound.

Bandage up the limb:

  • Make sure each turn overlaps the previous one.
  • You can use a figure‑eight pattern for joints like ankles or wrists.

Check circulation

The bandage should be firm but not too tight:

  • Press on a fingernail or toenail of the injured limb.
  • The nail should turn pale, then return to pink within about 2 seconds.

If the nail stays white for longer:

  • The bandage may be too tight—loosen it and recheck.
  • Continue to check circulation, especially if there is swelling.

Making an Arm Sling

After bandaging an injured forearm or wrist, an arm sling can support the limb and reduce pain.

Steps:

  1. Arrange the injured arm in a “V” shape in front of the body:

    • Elbow bent
    • Hand resting near the hollow where the collarbone meets the shoulder

  2. Open a triangular bandage and place it on top of the injured arm:

    • The longest edge runs along the body
    • The point of the triangle points toward the elbow on the injured side

  3. You only need enough material at the fingertip end to tie a knot.

  4. Create a cradle (hammock):

    • Fold the upper half of the long edge under the injured arm.

  5. Gently gather the material at the elbow and pull it snug (without pulling the bandage off the arm).

  6. Twist the gathered material at the elbow into a long spiral.

  7. Bring the long spiral around and up the person’s back.

  8. Tie the two ends together firmly near the fingertips so the arm is well supported.

Medication and Drug Overdose: Call 911

In Grand Rapids and across Michigan, medication and drug overdoses are a serious health concern.

Many medications and illicit drugs can have dangerous or fatal side effects, especially when:

  • Combined with alcohol
  • Mixed with other drugs
  • Taken in higher doses than prescribed

If you know or suspect someone has overdosed:

  • Do not leave them to “sleep it off.”
  • Call 911 immediately.
  • A doctor or paramedic should assess every overdose, even if the person seems okay at first.

Many overdoses can cause respiratory failure and death. Early medical help is critical.

When to Seek Medical Help in Grand Rapids

In an emergency, always call 911.

You can also seek help from:

  • Your GP (family doctor) or urgent care clinic
  • The emergency department at your nearest Grand Rapids hospital, such as:
    • Corewell Health Butterworth Hospital
    • Trinity Health Grand Rapids
    • Metro Health – University of Michigan Health
    • Mercy Health facilities in the metro area
  • Local resources like the Kent County Health Department and Grand Rapids Public Health for education and non‑emergency health support

Key First Aid Points to Remember

  • If the person responds to defibrillation, turn them onto their side and tilt their head to maintain a clear airway.
  • Maintaining a clear airway is always the top priority to keep the person breathing.
  • To reduce infection risk when treating wounds:
    • Wash your hands or use hand sanitizer if possible.
    • Wear disposable gloves and avoid breathing over the wound.
  • When using bandages, check circulation in fingers or toes.
    • If the nail stays white and does not return to pink within a few seconds, loosen the bandage.

Important Note

This information is general and is not a substitute for proper first aid or CPR training. For the safety of your family, coworkers, and community in Grand Rapids, consider enrolling in a certified first aid and CPR course and keeping your skills up to date.