Since 1910, the American National Red Cross has provided first aid instruction to the American public.

The First Aid Program of the American National Red Cross, for which this book is a teaching text, stems from the congressional charter provision that the organization shall devise and carry on measures for relieving and preventing suffering.

This textbook is designed for use by the general public to prepare people, through providing them with knowledge and skills, to meet the needs of most situations when emergency first aid care is needed and medical assistance is not excessively delayed. 

It incorporates personal safety and accident prevention information to acquaint individuals with many causes of accidents so that action can be taken to eliminate or minimize such causes.

To define current remedial procedures for this textbook, the Red Cross has asked the Division of Medical Sciences, National Academy of Sciences-National Research Council, to provide information for developing the content. 

The Division's assistance ensures the author- itative basis for the course content and provides a channel for extending the first aid recommendations of the medical profession to the American public.

The Red Cross expresses deep appreciation to members of the Ad Hoc Committee for Revision of the Red Cross First Aid Manual, under the chairmanship of Dr. Warren H. Cole, University of Illinois Medical Center, Chicago, Illinois, and to the staff of the Division of Medical Sciences. 

The Red Cross acknowledges, in particular, the contributions of Dr. Sam F. Seeley, Professional Associate, Division of Medical Sciences, for his technical guidance in developing this textbook prior to his retirement from the National Academy of Sciences.