Aims of first aid: Understanding the 3 Ps of First Aid

The main aims of first aid are often summed up as the Three Ps of First Aid: Preserve Life, Prevent Deterioration, and Promote Recovery. These objectives guide first responders in delivering effective care during emergencies and are key parts of first aid training.

The three Ps – Preserve life, Prevent further injury, and Promote recovery – serve as the primary principles that guide every action taken during an emergency.

These 3 Ps of First Aid guide all first aid actions, making sure the right steps are taken in the right order for the best possible result.

This guide looks closely at each P, helping you understand and feel confident in how to help in different situations.

👉Interested? Test Your Knowledge with our First Aid Quiz

Table Of Content [Click to expand]

Table of contents

• 1. Preserve Life: The Highest Priority
• 2. Prevent Further Injury: Minimise further harm
• 3. Promote Recovery: Preparing for Medical Care
• Additional Objectives
• Legal Responsibilities
• Importance of Proper First Aid Training
• How can I effectively teach the 3 Ps of first aid to others
• Final Thought on 3 Ps of First Aid

1. Preserve Life: The Highest Priority

Preserving life is the first and most important part of the 3 Ps of first aid, critical for saving lives. In an emergency, the main goal is to keep the injured or ill person alive until medical help arrives.

This principle highlights the importance of dealing with life-threatening conditions straight away, like heavy bleeding, difficulty breathing, or heart attacks.

This involves several life-saving techniques, such as:

1. Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR)

CPR is a vital skill that combines chest compressions and rescue breaths to maintain blood circulation in the body when the heart stops.

Acting quickly and performing CPR well can greatly improve the odds of survival during cardiac arrest.

2. Airway Management

Keeping the airway open is crucial for saving lives. First aiders learn to spot and deal with any air blockages that could stop someone from breathing properly, like objects or swelling in the airway.

3. Bleeding Control

Serious bleeding can quickly become life-threatening. First aiders are taught methods like applying pressure directly, using tourniquets, and packing wounds to stop too much blood from being lost. You can check our cpr and aed training here.

Four Points to Note:

The main aim of first aid is to keep the person alive.

What to do first:

1. Check the Area: Make sure it’s safe for you and the person. Look out for dangers like traffic or fire.
2. Check for Response: Gently tap the person and ask loudly if they’re okay. If they do not answer, they might be unconscious.
3. Check Breathing: Watch if their chest moves, listen for breathing sounds, or feel for air on your cheek near their mouth. If they’re not breathing, start CPR.
4. Stop Bleeding: Put pressure on any bleeding cuts with a clean cloth. If that doesn’t work, try pressure points or a tourniquet as a last resort.

Keep in mind: Starting CPR and stopping severe bleeding quickly can make a big difference in saving someone’s life. Do not wait – act fast, even if you haven’t had formal first aid training.

2. Prevent Further Injury: Minimise further harm

The Second P of First Aid is to Prevent Further Injury. After dealing with life-threatening situations, the next step is to avoid making things worse or causing more harm.

This means stabilising the situation and reducing the chances of further injury.

1. Keeping Still:

If someone might have a broken bone or strained muscle, it is important to keep them still to avoid making the injury worse. First aiders are trained on how to use splints, slings, and other methods to keep injured areas stable and ease discomfort.

2. Safe Surroundings:

 Checking for dangers in the surroundings is crucial to prevent more harm. This could mean moving the person away from danger, dealing with fire or chemical risks, or stopping them from getting too cold or hot.

3. Comfort and Calm

Offering emotional support and encouragement can prevent further problems caused by stress. First aiders are trained to communicate effectively to help calm people down and make them feel better in tough situations.

Five Points to Note

Once you have secured their immediate safety, focus on not allowing situation to get worse.

What to do:

1. Maintain Airway Flow: Tilt the person’s head back and lift their chin to open their airway.
2. Control Bleeding: Keep applying pressure to any bleeding until help arrives.
3. Manage Shock: Look for signs like pale skin, fast breathing, and weak pulse. If possible, raise their legs and keep them warm with blankets.
4. Treat other Injuries: If there’s time, check for other injuries like sprains or burns. Give basic care but deal with life-threatening issues first.
5. Monitor the person(s): Keep an eye on their breathing, pulse, and how conscious they are.

Remember: Only move the person if they’re in immediate danger or if you think they might have a spine injury. If you do need to move them, be as gentle as possible to avoid making things worse.

3. Promote Recovery: Preparing for Medical Care

The third P of the aims of first aid, ‘Promote Recovery,’ focuses on taking steps to facilitate the healing process and improve the overall outcome for the injured or ill person.

1. Keep Watching and Checking

First aiders are trained to keep an eye on the person’s condition and check how they’re doing. They look for any changes and adjust their help if needed.

2. Make Them Comfortable

Simple things like finding a comfy position, keeping them warm or cool, and offering reassurance can help them feel better and recover faster.

3. Get Ready for Medical help

First aid is often just the start of getting help. First aiders get the person ready for professional medical care by noting down what’s happened, watching for any changes, and talking clearly to emergency responders or doctors.

Promoting recovery is the final Ps of the 3 Ps of first aid you should know.

Additional Objectives

Some frameworks add to the Three Ps with:

• Relieving Pain: Making the casualty as comfortable as possible by using methods like ice packs or raising injured areas.
• Protecting the Unconscious: Keeping unconscious people safe by checking vital signs and placing them in the recovery position if there’s no suspected spinal injury.

It is also possible to refer to the term “five aims of first aid.” The key idea is knowing what to do and performing the actions correctly to preserve lives.

📌Related: First Aid Onsite Training.

Legal Responsibilities

While there are no specific laws directly addressing the 3 Ps of first aid (Preserve Life, Prevent Deterioration, and Promote Recovery), the legal framework for first aid in the workplace indirectly supports these principles:

• The Health and Safety (First-Aid) Regulations 1981 require employers to provide adequate equipment, facilities, and personnel for immediate first aid treatment. This ensures that resources are available to respond to emergencies, supporting all three Ps.
• Employers must conduct a First Aid Needs Assessment to determine the level of first aid provision needed. This helps ensure appropriate measures are in place to preserve life and prevent deterioration in workplace emergencies.
• The Human Rights Act, specifically Article 2, establishes a right to preserve life. This aligns directly with the first P (Preserve Life) and gives legal support for first aid actions.
• While not legally required, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) recommends that employers include non-employees (such as the public or children in schools) in their first aid provision. This extends the application of the 3 Ps beyond just employees.
• Specific industries, like offshore work and diving, have additional regulations for more comprehensive medical and first-aid facilities, further supporting the 3 Ps in high-risk environments.

These laws and regulations create a framework that encourages the application of the 3 Ps in first aid, even if they do not explicitly mention them.

It is important to understand that you have a legal duty of care to act reasonably in an emergency situation. This means taking steps to help the casualty without causing further harm.

If you’re not sure what to do, focus on calling for help and comforting the person until help arrives.

You can read more about duty of care on first aid legal requirements for employers and employees.

📌Try This: Basic Life Support Quiz with Answers.

Importance of Proper First Aid Training

To effectively apply the 3 Ps of first aid, it’s vital to get thorough training from skilled trainers. First aid courses not only teach the needed skills but also let you practice them in real-life scenarios.

Reputable first aid training providers like us offer various courses for different situations. We provide bespoke first aid training based on needs, industry, and staff duties.

These cover workplace first aid, first aid for children and schools, handling emergencies, and specialised training for health workers or emergency responders.

How can I effectively teach the 3 Ps of first aid to others

You can teach the 3 Ps of first aid (Preserve Life, Prevent Deterioration, Promote Recovery) effectively by using these strategies:

• Use easy-to-remember acronyms or pictures to help learners recall the 3 Ps.
• Share real-life examples to make the principles clearer and easier to understand.
• Include hands-on activities and role play so learners can practise using the 3 Ps in emergency situations.
• Break down each P:
  • Preserve Life: Teach ABC (Airway, Breathing, Circulation) to deal with life-threatening issues.
  • Prevent Deterioration: Show how to keep injuries stable and stop conditions from getting worse.
  • Promote Recovery: Highlight how reassurance and ongoing care help people heal.
• Use case studies: Present real-life first aid cases and guide learners in using the 3 Ps to solve them.
• Use technology: Include videos, online lessons, or apps to make learning more engaging.
• Encourage questions: Create a space where learners can ask questions and share ideas.
• Assess regularly: Give quizzes or practical tests to check understanding and focus on weak areas.
• Connect to other first aid ideas: Link the 3 Ps with concepts like ABCs or the 3 Cs (Check, Call, Care).
• Stress the importance: Explain how knowing the 3 Ps can make a big difference in emergencies.

You can help learners remember and apply the 3 Ps effectively in practical first aid situations through these methods.

Final Thought on 3 Ps of First Aid

The 3 Ps of first aid – Preserve life, Prevent further injury, and Promote recovery – serve as a general step for providing care by a first responder. These are the aims of first aid especially during an emergency.

 Following these principles can really change what happens to someone who’s hurt or sick, maybe even saving lives and making sure things don’t get worse.

Getting good first aid training and keeping on learning is not just a smart thing to do, it is also a way to make our work environment safer and more ready for anything.

Remember, when something goes wrong, what you do first can make a big difference.