first aid

American  

noun

1. emergency aid or treatment given to someone injured, suddenly ill, etc., before regular medical services arrive or can be reached.

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first aid British  

noun

1. 1. immediate medical assistance given in an emergency

   2. ( as modifier )

      first-aid box

2. (in Barbados) a small shop that sells domestic items after hours

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Other Word Forms

• first-aider
  noun
• first-aid
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of first aid

First recorded in 1880–85

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

first aid

Skaff said injuries beyond those requiring simple first aid are rare.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 29, 2026

He explained how combat first aid training reflected threats such as drone strikes.

From BBC ● Sep. 23, 2026

A bystander begged to help Good, to check her pulse and perform first aid.

From Slate ● Jul. 27, 2026

The responding officers rendered first aid to the victims before they were taken to local hospitals.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 5, 2026

He would get out the first aid kit and put some disinfectant on Abby’s scrapes, and on his own scratched arms and legs.

From "Earthquake Terror" by Peg Kehret