yes, call your emergency services number, and they will instruct you on how to perform CPR if necessary and if you're willing. they'll also in many cases tell you not to do that, because performing unnecessary CPR has risks too, and just because you watched a youtube video on how to do chest compressions it doesn't mean the person in front of you needs chest compressions.

For the US, requiring a first aid course at all would be a good start.

To get any drivers license in Germany, you have to get first aid training. It is an ~8-hour, in-person class. It teaches the law (failure to render help is a criminal offense, as it should be), and a specific workflow. It does not start with calling emergency services; that's step 3). It does include checking vitals and when to do what. Every single student gets hands-on experience doing the stable lateral position, helmet removal an CPR (chest compression and mouth to mouth resuscitation).

> To get any drivers license in Germany, you have to get first aid training.

Same in slovenia... but do you ever have to renew it? Or do you pass it at 18, and then forget everything in the next 10, 20, 30 years?

No, unfortunately. In Germany, first aid training for the regular drivers license does not expire.

I would welcome mandatory refreshers every 5 years. Not just because people forget, but also because the best practices (legal and medical) can change over time and people should be kept up to date.

In California, DMV requires renewing the drivers license every 5 years, which requires a simple vision test and a knowledge test about the rules of the road. The knowledge test can now be substituted by a ~90 minute at home online training (short videos and quizzes). I think that would be a great model for first aid refreshers as well.

I mean, personally I would like to see a behind the wheels test every 5-10 years too. I know too many people who I think are entirely incapable of following the most basic safe driving rules (like checking blind spots when changing lanes, buckling up before starting to drive or yielding to pedestrians when exiting a parking lot). But such a law would probably be deeply unpopular with the population.

911 etc will walk you through exactly what to do. Youtube is also not the only source of video information on the internet.

Going to a site/app that rolls ads before videos should never be your first choice in an emergency situation.

Some people benefit from visual instruction.

youtube is included in the "etc"

Unlike youtube, 911 is an emergency service. I used `etc` to describe other phone numbers that might be more appropriate for your country (999, for example).

> 911 etc will walk you through exactly what to do.

Assuming you can get connected. Youtube may well be more available depending on your location.

> Going to a site/app that rolls ads before videos should never be your first choice in an emergency situation.

People often panic in emergency situations and complex thinking goes out of the window. I don't blame anyone for needing to know how to do something quickly and reaching for the tool they use most regularly.

Since you call 911 anyway (hopefully) the person there is very likely trained in guiding you through the CPR / ventilation procedure - and will also be able to help you determine if you need to do chest compressions at all. I.e. the routine of "Check responsiveness, check pulse, check breathing (perhaps in an other order)

Check Pulse isn't a thing on any first aid course I've done in the last 10 years. Danger, Response, Airway, Breathing, then start pumping if they aren't breathing.

You can also install Red Cross First Aid application on your phone. (I am using Czech one so no specific recommendation.) I recommend doing it although I never had to use it.

Here if you call 112 dispatcher will help you out and tell you how to do CPR.

from the article (google translated):

>Oude Vrielink ran with his neighbor, called 112 and immediately wanted to start CPR.

> Because he had no experience with that, he searched for an explanation video on YouTube.

There is a serious gap in this storyline that needs to be addressed. Why was he left to his own devices after having made the call?