10 Most Common First Aid Mistakes (And What To Do Instead)
When an emergency happens, people often panic — and panic leads to mistakes.
Some of these mistakes can delay recovery, cause further harm, or even put a life at risk.
Here are the 10 most common first aid mistakes people make, and the correct actions you should take instead.
⭐ 1. Using ice on burns
❌ Mistake:
Putting ice directly on a burn.
✔ Correct Action:
Cool the burn under cool running water for 20 minutes.
Ice can cause further tissue damage.
⭐ 2. Tilting the head back during a nosebleed
❌ Mistake:
Leaning the person backward (risk of swallowing blood).
✔ Correct Action:
Tilt the head forward, pinch the soft part of the nose for 10 minutes.
⭐ 3. Removing objects stuck in wounds
❌ Mistake:
Pulling out glass, metal, or sticks.
✔ Correct Action:
Leave the object in place.
Apply padding around it and seek medical help.
⭐ 4. Using butter or creams on burns
❌ Mistake:
Applying butter, toothpaste, or creams.
✔ Correct Action:
Cool with running water for 20 minutes and cover with a clean dressing.
⭐ 5. Performing CPR incorrectly
❌ Mistake:
Pressing too slowly, too softly, or on the wrong part of the chest.
✔ Correct Action:
Push hard and fast in the centre of the chest, 100–120 compressions per minute, 1/3 chest depth.
⭐ 6. Not calling 000 early enough
❌ Mistake:
Trying to handle everything before calling for help.
✔ Correct Action:
Call 000 immediately when someone is unresponsive or not breathing normally.
⭐ 7. Not using an AED because you're scared
❌ Mistake:
Avoiding AEDs out of fear of “shocking someone wrong.”
✔ Correct Action:
Use the AED — it won’t shock unless needed, and it talks you through the steps.
⭐ 8. Trying to give someone having a seizure water or food
❌ Mistake:
Putting something in their mouth or trying to restrain them.
✔ Correct Action:
Clear the area, protect their head, time the seizure, and call 000 if it lasts >5 minutes.
⭐ 9. Cleaning wounds with alcohol, peroxide or Betadine
❌ Mistake:
Using strong chemicals that damage healthy tissue.
✔ Correct Action:
Clean with clean water only, pat dry, and apply a sterile dressing.
⭐ 10. Not knowing when to stop CPR
❌ Mistake:
Stopping too early.
✔ Correct Action:
Continue CPR until:
The person starts breathing normally
You are physically unable to continue
Paramedics take over
You are in Danger
⭐ Avoiding these mistakes can save a life
Knowing what not to do is just as important as knowing the right actions.
The best way to be prepared is through hands-on First Aid training with an experienced trainer who shows you exactly what to do in real-life emergencies.
⭐ Get Trained the Right Way
At All Ages First Aid Training Rockingham, we run small, friendly classes that focus on real skills, not just ticking a box.
Courses include:
HLTAID009 Provide CPR
HLTAID011 Provide First Aid
HLTAID012 Childcare First Aid