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Recent events have made it clear that the peaceful nature of protests can quickly turn violent. (This has become increasingly common, often due to misguided responses from law enforcement.) If you plan to attend a protest, it’s wise to review basic first aid techniques and check if anyone in your group has more advanced training.
Identify If Your Group Has Assigned Medics
Protest organizers or supporting groups may have designated individuals responsible for carrying first aid supplies and who are trained to handle medical emergencies (whether through first aid courses or experience as off-duty healthcare professionals). Even if no one has an official role, be aware of those who have basic first aid skills or are carrying medical supplies. If you are one of them, make sure to inform others.
If you want to learn first aid or CPR, taking an interactive class is the most effective option (use this locator from the Red Cross). However, there are online alternatives, such as this course by the National CPR Foundation, priced at $13 and taking around 20 minutes to complete.
Another resource is a comprehensive street medicine guide for protests available at riotmedicine.net. (The signed link wasn’t functional for me, but there’s an alternative version here.) This guide offers first aid tips along with advice on organizing within activist groups and improvising medical equipment during emergencies.
Understand the fundamentals
You should first familiarize yourself with the basic skills necessary to assist someone who requires medical attention. Below is a brief overview of the Red Cross’s five key steps, but it’s highly recommended to review the detailed version, which you can print and keep in your bag or pocket:
Before providing any care, assess the scene. Is it safe to approach? What might have happened? Are there other people who can help?
If the person is conscious, responsive, and not experiencing life-threatening bleeding, introduce yourself and ask if they consent to assistance. Ask a bystander to get supplies. Communicate with the person, check their condition, and provide the appropriate care.
If the person is unresponsive, spend no more than five to ten seconds calling their name, tapping them on the shoulder or foot, and checking for breathing.
If they are breathing, instruct bystanders to call 911 and fetch an AED (if available) and a first aid kit. Examine the person and ask bystanders for any relevant information.
If the person isn’t breathing, direct bystanders to call 911 and retrieve an AED, then start CPR.
One thing you’ll quickly realize in a first aid or CPR course is that you often require assistance—since you can’t dial 911 while performing CPR, for instance. However, you can’t simply shout out for help and expect someone to act. Instead, make eye contact with someone, point directly at them, and say: You, call 911.
Learn how to stop excessive bleeding
While it’s a hope you’ll never need this knowledge, if someone is bleeding heavily—such as from a gunshot wound—it’s vital to know how to act. The steps are simple: call 911, identify the bleeding source, and apply pressure. If the bleeding is from a limb and is life-threatening, a tourniquet can be a lifesaver. (This advice may be different from what you were taught previously.)
To further prepare yourself, consider enrolling in a Stop the Bleed training course and purchasing a bleeding control kit like this one from medical or emergency supply stores.
Understand how to stabilize injuries until professional help arrives
If someone has an open wound, clean it as best as you can. Wash your hands, rinse the wound thoroughly, and gently pat it dry with a clean cloth. (Using a sport top water bottle is ideal for flushing the wound, and it’s a good idea to carry a spare that you won’t be putting your mouth on.)
Reposition any skin flaps back into place and cover the wound with a clean bandage or dressing. If blood begins to soak through the bandage, don’t remove it—just add more layers on top. For a more thorough guide to wound care, check out this comprehensive resource.
Seek medical help if the wound doesn’t stop bleeding, if something is stuck inside the wound, or if it appears to be especially large or deep.
For a broken bone, immobilize the bone with a splint without trying to straighten the break. (Straightening the bone is a task for the ER, not for first aid.) Get medical help as quickly as possible.
If someone has fallen and you suspect neck or spinal injuries, do not move them. If the person has sustained a head injury, watch for signs of serious harm. A detailed list of signs can be found here, but look for things like bleeding or fluid leaking from the ears or nose, uneven pupils, weakness in the arms or legs, slurred speech, and seizures. These symptoms may indicate a serious injury and require urgent medical attention, so call 911 immediately.
If a blow to the head causes mild symptoms like headaches or nausea, immediate medical attention may not be necessary, but it’s still a good idea to have the person evaluated later, as these could indicate a concussion. (If you're uncertain, don't hesitate to get medical advice anyway.)
Essential items to bring with you
Any first aid materials can prove useful in an emergency. The Red Cross offers a guide for assembling personal and family first aid kits. Here are some key items that may be especially useful when helping others:
Personal protective equipment (PPE) such as gloves and a spare mask
Items for wound care, including gauze pads, bandages, and tape
A squirt bottle filled with saline or water to flush eyes in case of exposure to tear gas or pepper spray. A saline vial of 20 to 50 milliliters is suitable for tear gas, as noted in the Riot Medicine handbook. For pepper spray exposure, a larger eyewash bottle is better.
Scissors and tweezers
Emergency blankets (the shiny, foldable kind) to help keep someone warm, which can be especially useful if they’re wet from rinsing eyes or treating wounds with water
Medications you may need, such as an Epi-Pen or asthma inhaler, if you carry them
Printed first aid instructions, such as this or these
Remember, first aid is just the initial step, not the only action. If someone you're with needs professional medical treatment, stay with them until they receive the care they require.
