Germany First Aid Course Study Guide 2026

The course and the law

If you apply for a German driving licence of any class, you must show that you took part in first aid training (Schulung in Erster Hilfe). The rule is in § 19 of the Fahrerlaubnis-Verordnung (FeV). The course lasts at least 9 teaching units of 45 minutes and mixes theory with hands-on practice. It also includes basic facts about organ and tissue donation.

There is no exam. A recognised provider, such as an aid organisation, gives you a certificate of attendance (Bescheinigung). Public bodies such as the Bundeswehr or the police can also issue proof. You do not need a new certificate when your licence is extended. People with certain medical or rescue qualifications, such as doctors or trained paramedics, are exempt.

Since 2015 the licence course and the workplace first aider course have the same content. In a workplace with 2 to 20 people present, at least one trained first aider is needed. With more people, offices and shops need 5% and other businesses 10%.

Your duty to help

Under § 323c of the Criminal Code (StGB), failing to help in an accident can be punished with up to one year in prison or a fine, but only when help is necessary and reasonable. You do not have to put yourself in serious danger. Obstructing people who help is also an offence.

People who help in an emergency are insured by the statutory accident insurance (§ 2 SGB VII). If you are hurt while helping, you are covered.

Emergency calls and the chain of rescue

When you call 112, give the place first: town, street, house number, floor, or road and direction. Then say what happened, how many people are hurt, and their injuries or symptoms, for example whether they are awake and breathing. The dispatcher asks questions, so you do not need a script. Do not hang up until the dispatcher ends the call. Many control centres can guide you through CPR on the phone.

112 needs no area code and no credit. It works from any mobile phone with a working SIM card.

The DRK describes a chain of rescue (Rettungskette): immediate measures, further first aid, the ambulance service and the hospital. A chain is only as strong as its weakest link. First aid courses train you for the first two links, the minutes before professionals arrive.

Securing an accident scene

1. Switch on your hazard lights as soon as you see the accident.
2. Stop at a safe distance. At night, your headlights can light up the scene.
3. Put on a high-visibility vest before you get out.
4. Walk against the direction of traffic, behind the guardrail if possible, carrying the opened warning triangle.
5. Place the triangle far enough back. On fast roads the DRK suggests about 100 metres. Before a bend or hilltop, place it before the bend or crest.
6. Call 112 and give first aid. Ask other people to help.

Cars and most other motor vehicles must carry a first aid kit (Verbandkasten) to standard DIN 13164 (§ 35h StVZO). Motorcycles are exempt. Keep it complete and in date.

Unconscious person and CPR

German courses teach a simple rule: Prüfen – Rufen – Drücken (check, call, push).

1. Check: Speak loudly to the person and gently shake the shoulders. If there is no reaction, shout for help, tilt the head back, lift the chin and check if they are breathing normally.
2. Call: Call 112 or have someone else call. Ask for an AED (defibrillator) to be brought.
3. Push: If the person is not breathing normally, start chest compressions at once.

Press in the centre of the chest with straight arms and let the chest come fully back up each time. For a breath, tilt the head back, close the nose, seal your mouth over theirs and blow for about one second until the chest rises.

When an AED arrives, switch it on, attach the pads and follow the voice prompts. A helper who is alone should not stop CPR to fetch one. For a child or infant, a lone helper gives CPR for about one minute, then calls 112.

Continue until the person breathes normally, the rescue service takes over, or you are exhausted. Swap with another helper about every two minutes if you can.

Recovery position and shock

Use the recovery position (stabile Seitenlage) for a person who is unconscious but breathing normally. It keeps the airway open and lets vomit or blood drain from the mouth.

1. Kneel beside the person and straighten the legs. Put the near arm out at a right angle, palm up.
2. Bring the far arm across the chest and hold the back of the hand against their near cheek.
3. Bend the far knee and pull the person towards you onto their side.
4. Adjust the top leg so the hip and knee are bent at right angles.
5. Tilt the head back and open the mouth slightly. The mouth should be the lowest point.

Keep checking consciousness and breathing until help arrives. If breathing stops, roll them onto their back and start CPR.

Shock

Shock often follows heavy bleeding or serious injury. Early signs are restlessness and fear, then pale, cold, clammy skin and shivering. Later the person may become quiet and lose consciousness. If they are awake, lay them down, raise the legs, cover them with a blanket, keep them calm and call 112.

Bleeding, burns and injuries

For severe bleeding, press firmly on the wound with clean material, raise the limb if possible and apply a pressure bandage (Druckverband). Keep the person lying down and watch for shock. In adults, losing about 1 litre of blood can be life-threatening. Wear gloves from the first aid kit if you can.

For a nosebleed, have the person lean forward and put a cold cloth on the back of the neck.

For burns, remove the heat source and cool with cool, not ice-cold, water for at least 20 minutes. Take care with large burns and small children, as they can get too cold. Then cover loosely with a sterile dressing or cling film. Do not use home remedies, do not open blisters and do not pull off clothing stuck to the skin.

For a suspected fracture, keep the limb still in the position you found it and support it with padding. Do not try to straighten it. Cover an open wound.

For an electric shock, switch off the power first. Never touch a person who is still in the circuit. Keep away from high-voltage accidents and call 112.

Choking and sudden illness

If a choking adult can still cough, encourage them to cough hard. If they cannot speak, breathe or cough, have them lean forward and give up to 5 back blows between the shoulder blades. If that fails, give up to 5 upper abdominal thrusts (Oberbauchkompression). Keep alternating and call 112. If they become unconscious and stop breathing normally, start CPR.