There are three critical steps in emergency first aid. A person needs all three common denominators to live, and basic life support or CPR, together with early defibrillation, is proven to improve long-term survival after a cardiac arrest.

While this book outlines the basic steps for cardiopulmonary resuscitation, it should not be relied on for instruction; rather, it should be used for an introduction and followed by formal training and exercises. You can find CPR and first-aid classes by calling the American Heart Association or the American Red Cross.

The ABCs of first aid is a mnemonic that stands for airway, breathing, and circulation:

• Airway: Is the airway unobstructed? Use measures to clear the airway.

• Breathing: Is the person breathing? Start rescue breathing.

• Circulation: Is the person's heart beating? Start chest compressions.

It's important to note, however, that the 2010 CPR Guidelines actually changed the order of CPR steps from ABC to CAB: Compressions, Airway and then Breathing -- it's important to getting blood flowing as quickly as possible in cardiac arrest victims.