Left 4 Dead/Gameplay

General survival
Above all, sticking together is crucial to survival in Left 4 Dead. If you get left behind or run on too far ahead you are easy prey for a special Infected. Generally speaking, there should be one player slightly ahead of the others to check out dangers up ahead, although close enough that the other players can provide assistance. Be especially careful when going around a blind corner or out from under an overhanging area: Boomers will often show up right where you can't see them (while you can listen for the belching noises you won't always hear him in time to avoid his vomit), and Hunters like to pounce on their prey from above if they can.

In Left 4 Dead, survivors are generally vulnerable due to their limited access to health, and having to proceed with limited ammunition for their primary weapons. As such, survivors have a best chance of survival trying to reach the safe house by following main passageways (or side passages that don't deviate away), with limited focus on collecting any scattered supplies.

Healing
The attacks of the Infected will deal damage, as will friendly fire from the other survivors. Health does not regenerate in Left 4 Dead, so wounds must be treated with a Medkit. At the start of a campaign a Medkit spawns on the table for each of the survivors, and each player should pick one up. Unfortunately, if you are playing with one or more AI survivors you may find it difficult to convince them to pick it up. You can heal yourself with the Medkit by selecting it and holding, or by getting close to another player and holding. Applying a Medkit takes some time but will heal most damage and won't disappear gradually like pain pills. Once successfully applied, the Medkit is used up. To get the maximum amount of health back from a Medkit you should save it until a survivor's health is down to red and then heal him with it.

In addition to Medkits, the Director will randomly spawn Pain Pills at certain points on the map. Unlike Medkits the Pain Pills work immediately, but only give a temporary health boost (indicated by the health bar made up of dashes that gradually shrink, rather than being filled in); damage can only be permanently restored by a Medkit. Pain Pills are consumed by pressing, or can be passed to another player by getting close and pressing. Unlike Medkits, Pain Pills received from another player sit in the inventory until used. Once swallowed, the Pain Pills are used up.

As well as the random spawns there are also first aid cabinets on certain maps; these cabinet are always in the same locations, but their specific contents are determined by the Director. A cabinet can contain anywhere from one to four Medkits or bottles of Pain Pills.

You can only carry one Medkit and one bottle of Pain Pills at any one time. If you already have all you can carry and find additional healing items you should get another player to pick up to ensure they are available for the group to use.