Evidence

On this page, you can find an overview of Cochrane reviews that are relevant to the field of first aid. This includes not only reviews targeted at laypeople as providers of healthcare interventions, but also reviews that investigate interventions that are feasible in a lay setting.

We selected reviews based on a set of criteria, which you can find here. Only reviews that were published in the past 5 years, or that are declared stable, are included.

The relevant reviews are structured according to the lay-out of a typical first aid manual, which tries to group conditions broadly according to body part (e.g. ear pain is covered in the chapter head), in addition to some specific conditions which do not necessarily fit within a specific region (e.g. bites and stings is a separate chapter).

Have you spotted first aid-relevant Cochrane reviews that are not on this list yet? Contact us, so we can add them.

Resuscitation and defibrillation

Title Year Cochrane Review Group Blogshot Cochrane Corner (CC) / Visual abstract (VA)
Community first responders for out‐of‐hospital cardiac arrest in adults and children 2019 Cochrane Emergency and Critical Care Group    
Sustained versus standard inflations during neonatal resuscitation to prevent mortality and improve respiratory outcomes 2020 Cochrane Neonatal Group    
Active chest compression‐decompression for cardiopulmonary resuscitation 2013 (declared stable) Cochrane Heart Group    
Continuous chest compression versus interrupted chest compression for cardiopulmonary resuscitation of non‐asphyxial out‐of‐hospital cardiac arrest 2017 Cochrane Emergency and Critical Care Group

English blogshot Bosnian blogshot continuous chest compressions Croatian blogshot continuous chest compressions Dutch blogshot French blogshot Malay blogshot Portuguese blogshot Serbian blogshot continuous chest compressions Simplified Chinese blogshot Traditional Chinese blogshot

CC / VA


Skin wounds

Title Year Cochrane Review Group Blogshot
Water for wound cleansing 2022 Cochrane Wounds Group  
Devices for preventing percutaneous exposure injuries caused by needles in healthcare personnel 2017 Cochrane Work Group  


Burns

Title Year Cochrane Review Group Blogshot
Antiseptics for burns 2017 Cochrane Wounds Group  


Head and neck

Title Year Cochrane Review Group Blogshot Cochrane Corner (CC) / Visual abstract (VA)
Paracetamol (acetaminophen) with or without an antiemetic for acute migraine headaches in adults 2013 (declared stable) Cochrane Pain, Palliative and Supportive Care Group    
Diclofenac with or without an antiemetic for acute migraine headaches in adults 2013 (declared stable) Cochrane Pain, Palliative and Supportive Care Group    
Ibuprofen for acute treatment of episodic tension‐type headache in adults 2015 (declared stable) Cochrane Pain, Palliative and Supportive Care Group    
Aspirin for acute treatment of episodic tension‐type headache in adults 2017 Cochrane Pain, Palliative and Supportive Care Group    
Aspirin with or without an antiemetic for acute migraine headaches in adults 2013 (declared stable) Cochrane Pain, Palliative and Supportive Care Group    
Interventions for managing halitosis 2019 Cochrane Oral Health Group

English blogshot Dutch blogshot French blogshot Kiswahili blogshot Malay blogshot Portuguese blogshot Simplified Chinese blogshot Traditional Chinese blogshot

 
Non‐surgical interventions for acute internal hordeolum 2017 Cochrane Eyes and Vision Group    
Ibuprofen with or without an antiemetic for acute migraine headaches in adults 2013 (declared stable) Cochrane Pain, Palliative and Supportive Care Group    
Paracetamol (acetaminophen) for acute treatment of episodic tension‐type headache in adults 2016 (declared stable) Cochrane Pain, Palliative and Supportive Care Group

English blogshot Dutch blogshot French blogshot Malay blogshot

 
Interventions to prevent occupational noise‐induced hearing loss 2017 Cochrane Work Group    
Prehospital stroke scales as screening tools for early identification of stroke and transient ischemic attack 2019 Cochrane Stroke Group   CC / VA


Chest

Title Year Cochrane Review Group Blogshot
Honey for acute cough in children 2018 Cochrane Acute Respiratory Infections Group

English blogshot Blogshot Dutch French blogshot

Breathing exercises for adults with asthma 2020 Cochrane Airways Group  


Stomach and back

Title Year Cochrane Review Group Blogshot
Non‐steroidal anti‐inflammatory drugs for heavy menstrual bleeding 2019 Cochrane Gynaecology and Fertility Group  
Interventions to prevent or treat heavy menstrual bleeding or pain associated with intrauterine-device use 2022 Cochrane Fertility Regulation Group  
Interventions for heavy menstrual bleeding; overview of Cochrane reviews and network meta-analysis 2022 Cochrane Gynaecology and Fertility Group  
Probiotics for treating acute infectious diarrhoea 2020 Cochrane Infectious Diseases Group  
Fly control to prevent diarrhoea in children 2018 Cochrane Infectious Diseases Group  
Hand washing promotion for preventing diarrhoea 2021 Cochrane Infectious Diseases Group  
Oral versus intravenous rehydration for treating dehydration due to gastroenteritis in children 2006 (declared stable) Cochrane Infectious Diseases Group  
Interventions to improve disposal of child faeces for preventing diarrhoea and soil‐transmitted helminth infection 2019 Cochrane Infectious Diseases Group  
Interventions to improve water, sanitation, and hygiene for preventing soil-transmitted helminth infection 2022 Cochrane Infectious Diseases Group  
Smectite for acute infectious diarrhoea in children 2018 Cochrane Infectious Diseases Group English blogshot
Non‐steroidal anti‐inflammatory drugs for acute low back pain 2020 Cochrane Back and Neck Group  
D-mannose for preventing and treating urinary tract infection 2022 Cochrane Kidney and Transplant Group  


Limbs

Title Year Cochrane Review Group Blogshot
Interventions for preventing falls in people after stroke 2019 Cochrane Stroke Group  
Salicylate‐containing rubefacients for acute and chronic musculoskeletal pain in adults 2014 (declared stable) Cochrane Pain, Palliative and Supportive Care Group  
Topical NSAIDs for acute musculoskeletal pain in adults 2015 (declared stable) Cochrane Pain, Palliative and Supportive Care Group  
Magnesium for skeletal muscle cramps 2020 Cochrane Neuromuscular Group  
Interventions for treating wrist fractures in children 2018 Cochrane Bone, Joint and Muscle Trauma Group  
Non‐drug therapies for the prevention of lower limb muscle cramps 2021 Cochrane Neuromuscular Group  
Interventions for preventing falls in people with multiple sclerosis 2019 Cochrane Multiple Sclerosis and Rare Diseases of the CNS Group  
Oral non‐steroidal anti‐inflammatory drugs versus other oral analgesic agents for acute soft tissue injury 2020 Cochrane Bone, Joint and Muscle Trauma Group

English blogshot Blogshot Dutch French blogshot Croatian blogshot continuous chest compressions Portuguese blogshot Oral NSAIDs for acute soft tissue injury Serbian blogshot Oral NSAIDs for acute soft tissue injury Kiswahili blogshot

Non‐steroidal anti‐inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) for trigger finger 2021 Cochrane Musculoskeletal Group  
Antioxidants for preventing and reducing muscle soreness after exercise 2017 Cochrane Bone, Joint and Muscle Trauma Group  
Running shoes for preventing lower limb running injuries in adults 2022 Cochrane Bone, Joint and Muscle Trauma Group  


Bites and stings

Title Year Cochrane Review Group Blogshot
Indoor residual spraying for preventing malaria in communities using insecticide‐treated nets 2019 Cochrane Infectious Diseases Group  
Electronic mosquito repellents for preventing mosquito bites and malaria infection 2007 (declared stable) Cochrane Infectious Diseases Group  
Interventions for the symptoms and signs resulting from jellyfish stings 2013 (declared stable) Cochrane Pain, Palliative and Supportive Care Group  
Mosquito repellents for malaria prevention 2018 Cochrane Infectious Diseases Group  
Insecticide-treated nets for preventing malaria 2018 Cochrane Infectious Diseases Group  
Insecticide space spraying for preventing malaria transmission 2018 Cochrane Infectious Diseases Group  


Poisoning

Title Year Cochrane Review Group Blogshot
First aid interventions by laypeople for acute oral poisoning 2018 Cochrane Injuries Group  
Interventions for paracetamol (acetaminophen) overdose 2018 Cochrane Hepato‐Biliary Group  


Specific injuries and conditions

Title Year Cochrane Review Group Blogshot Visual abstract (VA) / Policy Brief (PB)
Compression stockings for preventing deep vein thrombosis in airline passengers 2021 Cochrane Vascular Group English blogshot Blogshot Dutch Kiswahili blogshot Malay blogshot Portuguese blogshot Traditional Chinese blogshot Simplified Chinese blogshot Croatian blogshot continuous chest compressions Serbian Bosnian blogshot continuous chest compressions  
Calcium supplementation for prevention of primary hypertension 2022 Cochrane Hypertension Group    
First aid glucose administration routes for symptomatic hypoglycaemia 2019 Cochrane Metabolic and Endocrine Disorders Group English blogshot Blogshot Dutch French blogshot Kiswahili blogshot Malay blogshot Portuguese blogshot   
Day care as a strategy for drowning prevention in children under 6 years of age in low- and middle-income countries 2021 Cochrane Public Health Group English blogshot Croatian blogshot continuous chest compressions Blogshot Dutch French blogshot Kiswahili blogshot Malay blogshot Portuguese blogshot Serbian Traditional Chinese blogshot Simplified Chinese blogshot 

Spain

 

 

 

VA / PB
Electric fans for reducing adverse health impacts in heatwaves 2012 (declared stable) Cochrane Gynaecological, Neuro‐oncology and Orphan Cancer Group    
Antihistamines for motion sickness 2022 Cochrane Ear, Nose and Throat Group    
Interventions for preventing high altitude illness: Part 3. Miscellaneous and non‐pharmacological interventions 2019 Cochrane Emergency and Critical Care Group    
Interventions for treating acute high altitude illness 2018 Cochrane Emergency and Critical Care Group    
Pool fencing for preventing drowning of children

1998 (declared stable)

Cochrane Injuries Group    


Allergy

Title Year Cochrane Review Group Blogshot
Interventions for preventing occupational irritant hand dermatitis 2018 Cochrane Skin Group English blogshot
Saline irrigation for allergic rhinitis 2018 Cochrane ENT Group  


Infectious diseases

Title Year Cochrane Review Group Blogshot
Zinc supplementation for the treatment of measles in children 2015 Cochrane Acute Respiratory Infections Group  
Oral antihistamine-decongestant-analgesic combinations for the common cold 2022 Cochrane Acute Respiratory Infections Group  
House modifications for preventing malaria 2021 Cochrane Infectious Diseases Group English blogshot Serbian Simplified Chinese blogshot Traditional Chinese blogshot Malay blogshot French blogshot
Interventions to improve hand hygiene compliance in patient care 2017 Cochrane Effective Practice and Organisation of Care Group  
Homeopathic medicinal products for preventing and treating acute respiratory tract infections in children 2022 Cochrane Acute Respiratory Infections Group  
Physical interventions to interrupt or reduce the spread of respiratory viruses 2020 Cochrane Acute Respiratory Infections Group

Hand hygiene: English blogshot Croatian blogshot continuous chest compressions Blogshot Dutch French blogshot Kiswahili blogshot Malay blogshot Portuguese blogshot Serbian Simplified Chinese blogshot Traditional Chinese blogshot

Rinse‐free hand wash for reducing absenteeism among preschool and school children 2020 Cochrane Developmental, Psychosocial and Learning Problems Group  
Quarantine alone or in combination with other public health measures to control COVID‐19: a rapid review 2020 Cochrane Infectious Diseases Group  
Hand cleaning with ash for reducing the spread of viral and bacterial infections: a rapid review 2020 Cochrane Infectious Diseases Group English blogshot Bosnian blogshot continuous chest compressions Croatian blogshot continuous chest compressions Blogshot Dutch French blogshot Kiswahili blogshot Malay blogshot Portuguese blogshot Serbian Simplified Chinese blogshot Traditional Chinese blogshot
Heated, humidified air for the common cold 2017 Cochrane Acute Respiratory Infections Group  
Interventions for cutaneous molluscum contagiosum 2017 Cochrane Skin Group  
Personal protective equipment for preventing highly infectious diseases due to exposure to contaminated body fluids in healthcare staff 2020 Cochrane Work Group  
Condom effectiveness in reducing heterosexual HIV transmission 2002 (declared stable) Cochrane HIV/AIDS Group  
Cyclamen europaeum extract for acute sinusitis 2018 Cochrane Acute Respiratory Infections Group English blogshot


Pregnancy and delivery

Title Year Cochrane Review Group Blogshot
Perineal techniques during the second stage of labour for reducing perineal trauma 2017 Cochrane Pregnancy and Childbirth Group  
Oral non‐steroidal anti‐inflammatory drugs (single dose) for perineal pain in the early postpartum period 2021 Cochrane Pregnancy and Childbirth Group  
Continuous support for women during childbirth 2017 Cochrane Pregnancy and Childbirth Group English blogshot
Paracetamol/acetaminophen (single administration) for perineal pain in the early postpartum period 2021 Cochrane Pregnancy and Childbirth Group  
Immersion in water during labour and birth 2018 Cochrane Pregnancy and Childbirth Group  
Bed sharing versus no bed sharing for healthy term neonates 2021 Cochrane Neonatal Group  
Relief of pain due to uterine cramping/involution after birth 2020 Cochrane Pregnancy and Childbirth Group English blogshot Bosnian blogshot continuous chest compressions Dutch blogshot Kiswahili blogshot Serbian Simplified Chinese blogshot Malay blogshot  Traditional Chinese blogshot
Local cooling for relieving pain from perineal trauma sustained during childbirth 2020 Cochrane Pregnancy and Childbirth Group  
Position in the second stage of labour for women without epidural anaesthesia 2017 Cochrane Pregnancy and Childbirth Group English blogshot
Fundal pressure during the second stage of labour 2017 Cochrane Pregnancy and Childbirth Group  
Assessment and support during early labour for improving birth outcomes 2017 Cochrane Pregnancy and Childbirth Group  
Pushing/bearing down methods for the second stage of labour 2017 Cochrane Pregnancy and Childbirth Group  
Interventions for leg cramps in pregnancy 2020 Cochrane Pregnancy and Childbirth Group  
Infant pacifiers for reduction in risk of sudden infant death syndrome 2017 Cochrane Neonatal Group  
Effect of timing of umbilical cord clamping and other strategies to influence placental transfusion at preterm birth on maternal and infant outcomes 2019 Cochrane Pregnancy and Childbirth Group  
Aspirin (single dose) for perineal pain in the early postpartum period 2020 Cochrane Pregnancy and Childbirth Group  
Massage, reflexology and other manual methods for pain management in labour 2018 Cochrane Pregnancy and Childbirth Group  
Relaxation techniques for pain management in labour 2018 Cochrane Pregnancy and Childbirth Group  
Oral non‐steroidal anti‐inflammatory drugs (single dose) for perineal pain in the early postpartum period 2021 Cochrane Pregnancy and Childbirth Group  


General pain

Title Year Cochrane Review Group Blogshot
Topical analgesics for acute and chronic pain in adults ‐ an overview of Cochrane Reviews 2017 (declared stable) Cochrane Pain, Palliative and Supportive Care Group  
Caffeine as an analgesic adjuvant for acute pain in adults 2014 (declared stable) Cochrane Pain, Palliative and Supportive Care Group  
Non‐prescription (OTC) oral analgesics for acute pain ‐ an overview of Cochrane reviews 2015 (declared stable) Cochrane Pain, Palliative and Supportive Care Group  

Overall health

Title Year Cochrane Review Group Blogshot
Vitamin A supplementation for preventing morbidity and mortality in children from six months to five years of age 2022

Cochrane Developmental, Psychosocial and Learning Poblems Group

 

Mental health

Title Year Cochrane Review Group Blogshot
Video calls for reducing social isolation and loneliness in older people: a rapid review 2020 Cochrane Public Health Group  
Peer support interventions for parents and carers of children with complex needs 2021 Cochrane Consumers and Communication Group