Q.What is first aid? State its three aims.

Question Type: Plain theory question

First aid is the immediate, temporary care given to a person who has been injured or has suddenly fallen ill, before the arrival of qualified medical help. It is not a substitute for professional treatment, but a critical bridge that can mean the difference between life and death, or between a full recovery and a permanent disability.

The three aims of first aid are universally remembered by the mnemonic '3 Ps':

1. Preserve Life: The top priority is to keep the casualty alive. This involves checking for and managing the ABCs (Airway, Breathing, Circulation), controlling severe bleeding, and preventing the condition from worsening.
2. Prevent Further Harm (or Prevent the condition from worsening): Once life is secured, the first aider must stop the injury from getting worse. This means immobilising fractures, protecting wounds from infection, moving the casualty only if the scene is dangerous, and preventing unnecessary movement. …

First aid is not a substitute for a doctor's treatment — it is the bridge between the moment an injury or sudden illness happens and the arrival of qualified medical care. The person giving first aid is usually not a medical professional, but a bystander, a teammate, a coach, or a teacher who acts quickly and calmly. The entire philosophy of first aid rests on a single, non-negotiable priority: Preserve Life. Everything else comes second.

Why does this matter in Physical Education? In sports, accidents happen — a sprained ankle on the track, a head collision in football, heat exhaustion during a long run, or a sudden cardiac event. The first few minutes are critical. If the first aider knows what to do, they can prevent a minor injury from becoming a major one, and in the worst case, they can keep someone alive until the ambulance arrives.

The three aims of first aid are often remembered by the acronym PPP — Preserve, Prevent, Promote. Let's break each one down.

1. Preserve Life — This is the overriding aim. The first aider must check for immediate threats to life: is the person breathing? Do they have a pulse? Are they bleeding severely? Is their airway clear? The first aider's job is to keep the vital functions going — by performing CPR if needed, controlling heavy bleeding, placing an unconscious person in the recovery position, or clearing an obstructed airway. Nothing else matters until life is out of immediate danger. …