If you search "What to do if you have a heart attack" on YouTube, the platform will now display videos with trusted first aid instructions at the top of the search results. These short, step-by-step videos, produced in partnership with Massachusetts General Hospital Brigham and the Mexican Red Cross, cover a range of basic health emergencies and first aid procedures, prioritizing immediate and timely advice. Tutorials will cover how to perform the Heimlich maneuver, CPR, recognizing signs of a heart attack and other emergency health care topics.
Before taking any first aid measures, the American Red Cross recommends calling 911 and alerting emergency services immediately, as many health conditions are time-sensitive. People can then learn on YouTube how to administer first aid before medical help arrives. If done correctly, these basic first aid techniques can often prevent further harm to the patient or help stabilize the patient until an ambulance arrives.
There are explainer videos covering health emergencies such as opioid overdose, seizures, heart attacks, psychosis, CPR, choking/Heimlich maneuvers, bleeding, stroke, snake bites, how to apply a tourniquet, suicide attempts, and poisoning/overdose. YouTube also offers hands-on CPR classes produced in partnership with the American Heart Association, so you don't have to wait until an emergency occurs to watch them.
Recently, YouTube has taken some steps to promote more trustworthy health information. Last year, YouTube began cracking down on videos containing medical misinformation, including videos about abortion and false or unproven treatments for common diseases like cancer and COVID-19.
The First Aid Information Shelf will be available in English and Spanish in the United States, with additional languages and countries to be made available in the coming months.