The benefit of this skill is the ability to heal yourself (and others) using items created from ingredients you are finding anyway while you are killing monsters. You might be throwing these first aid ingredients away, but you should instead turn them into something useful.

• Since First Aid does not take up one of the two profession slots, every player can get it without penalty. Some say that Tailors shouldn't get First Aid because it wastes cloth, however, you can gather enough cloth to do both.
• First Aid is also almost a requirement for Raids. While fighting powerful bosses, Raid leaders sometime say "run away and bandage." Even classes that have healing can still benefit from bandages because bandages conserve mana.
• Bandages are channel cast and heal over time. If the player bandaging or the player being bandaged is struck in combat, the bandaging effect ends. Either way, the target still gets the "recently bandaged" debuff. It's really annoying to start to bandage, be hit, then you can no longer use another bandage for 60 seconds. The bandage is wasted and the target is not fully healed. For this reason, try to only use bandages when you won't be attacked. This is not always possible, especially when bandaging in battlegrounds. Try to go hide somewhere or run away from monsters before bandaging to reduce wasted bandages.
• You can bandage multiple targets in a row such as yourself, your pet, and party members as long as you pick different targets to avoid the recently bandaged limit.
• The recipes for Heavy Mageweave Bandage, Runecloth Bandage, and Heavy Runecloth Bandage can be learned by visiting your faction's Artisan First Aid questgiver.
• You will need to purchase an Expert First Aid book to advance First Aid higher than 125. These can sometimes be found in the auction house. You also need to purchase Manual: Heavy Silk Bandage, and Manual: Mageweave Bandage. Alliance players need to buy the books from Deneb Walker in Stromgarde Keep in Arathi Highlands. He can be difficult to find. He's inside the keep on the safe side in a dark corner past a little bridge. Horde players need to find Balai Lok'Wein in Brackenwall Village in Dustwallow Marsh.
• The minimum level for Artisan First Aid is 35. To advance past 225 First Aid you will need to be taught by a doctor. This involves performing a special task involving saving patients before a timer is up. Horde players must speak to Doctor Gregory Victor in the town of Hammerfall in Arathi Highlands. Alliance players talk to Doctor Gustaf VanHowzen in Dustwallow Marsh.

  Other Tips

  • Hunters and Warlocks can use bandages to quickly heal their pets. This is very useful, especially when leveling up to 60.
  • Place bandages on the action bar to more quickly use them.
  • Battlegrounds sell special bandages that can only be used while in the battlegrounds. You may need to raise your faction in the battleground to earn these bandages. These are very useful if you are a regular PvP warrior.
  • Bandages are especially useful when leveling to 60 for classes that do not heal such as Rogues and Warriors. Start early. You also collect a lot of linen that can be used to start off first aid. Go to town and look for a trainer as soon as you can.
  • Bandages heal faster than food, allowing you to more quickly get back into combat.
  • Tip: make sure you watch your skill level to make sure it is not maxed. It's common mistake to not notice you've maxed out your current skill level. This causes you to lose skill points increases.