First Aid Goals: Preserve Life, Prevent Deterioration, Promote Recovery

The three core aims of first aid form a hierarchy:

1. Preserve Life

• Immediate threats: airway obstruction, respiratory arrest, cardiac arrest, severe hemorrhage, shock, anaphylaxis.
• Actions: CPR, AED, Heimlich, tourniquet, recovery position, epinephrine auto-injector.

2. Prevent Further Harm

• Stabilize: spinal immobilization, splint fractures, cool burns, cover wounds, remove from danger.
• Prevent complications: infection control, pressure relief, glucose for hypoglycemia.

3. Promote Recovery

• Comfort: analgesia, reassurance, warmth, positioning.
• Facilitate professional care: clear handoff (MIST: Mechanism, Injuries, Signs, Treatment), documentation.
• Aftercare guidance: wound care, follow-up, red flags.

Guiding Principles

• Do No Harm: Don't exceed training.
• Act Within Scope: Legal protection (Good Samaritan) requires reasonableness.
• Continuous Assessment: ABCDE repeat until handoff.

First aid bridges the gap between incident and definitive care. Training saves lives.