Your Guide to First Aid Sign

A green-colored square and a white cross, what do you get? Nope, it is not related to the Red Cross Association, although the symbol is kind of related to medical practice. The green background with a white cross on it is the official symbol of first aid. There are other versions of the cross and green color tandem, in fact, there are symbols of first aid that do not have a cross on them but instead a star.

Take a close look at the story behind the cross and the green color elements of the first aid sign, and the other versions of the symbol, and learn other signs of first aid.

First aid is defined as the immediate provision of partial medical attention or treatment to a person who has experienced accidental or intentional injury or illness.

In the absence of a doctor or while definitive treatment is not yet accessible, the first aid rescuer is responsible for applying basic, temporary but life-saving treatment. First aid is found everywhere, in schools, offices, public places, and even in the outdoors during nature treks or summer camps. But in case a first aid rescuer is not around, a first aid site or clinic is the immediate destination of patients experiencing an injury.

To help assistants in bringing the patient to a first aid site or clinic, a first aid sign is used to identify the presence of a first aid facility. The first aid sign is symbolized usually by a green square with a white cross on it. The purpose of using green and white colors is to give patients an assurance of wellness. Green is a color of calmness, freshness, health, and growth while the color white denotes peace and cleanliness.

The white cross and the green color are the ISO recognized symbols for first aid. The red cross is sometimes confused with first aid, but it should never be used as a first aid sign.

The red cross refers to the non-profit organization called Red Cross. In Ireland, the symbol for first aid is the Maltese cross. Some first aid providers in the US however adopt the Maltese cross.

The Star of Life symbol which is the sign for ambulance services is also mistakenly used as a first aid sign.

The cross and the white and green color tandem is indeed the internationally accepted first aid sign. As a variant, a first aid sign can have a green circle outline with a green cross inside it. But whatever the shape of your first aid sign, make sure that it’s ISO accepted and visible, and that your first aid clinic is very accessible.