The three P’s of First Aid Training is integral knowledge for all first aiders. In an emergency situation, the three Ps of First Aid help you decide your actions as a first responder.
Whether it is to perform adult CPR or address an injury, ultimately, the primary goal is to SAVE LIVES.
Let’s find out more about this basic First Aid knowledge. Read on!
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What Is First Aid?
First aid is the medical attention given during an emergency. This is administered immediately after injury at the location of the accident.
It is often done quickly with little technology or training required.
First aid can include cleaning wounds, treating burns, performing CPR, removing debris, applying bandages, and administering non-prescription medicine to victims.
What Are the Three P’s of First Aid?
The PPP acronym in first aid stands for:
- Preserve Life
- Prevent Deterioration
- Promote Recovery
These describe the responsibilities of a certified first aider at an accident scene. These may seem simple, but they can be life-changing for casualties and even protect first aiders themselves from more harm.
Let’s elaborate more about the PPP of first aid training:
Preserve Life
You might catch yourself amid an emergency scene. As a first responder, your first priority should be to preserve life.
Start by assessing the area for dangers. Make sure to protect yourself first. Proceed by applying the C-A-B protocol on an injured person, if any.
- Circulation – check the quality of their circulation and adjust if needed.
- Airway – ensure the casualty has an airway.
- Breathing – makes sure the victim is breathing.
At this point, you may need to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and rescue breathing until professional help arrives.
Other first aid treatments to stop bleeding and other concerns may also be necessary to preserve life.
Prevent Deterioration
The second goal for a first responder is to prevent deterioration. Put the casualty in a comfortable position to prevent further injury before emergency medical professionals arrive.
Your job isn’t to cure anything, as that is the doctor’s job. All you have to do is make sure the victim is in a stable condition.
What you can do is:
- Keep a close look at a seizure victim.
- Give a diabetic some sugar when they are low on glucose.
- Do anything to stop any bleeding.
- A fractured arm or leg should be immobilised to prevent further injury.
Attending to victims at this stage carries risks of infection. Make sure to wear gloves and regularly disinfect, especially when washing wounds.
Promote Recovery
After you’ve done all your first aid treatment, the last thing to do is to promote recovery.
Different situations may call for varying approaches to encourage getting better. These tactics can be learned in first aid training courses.
The basics to promote recovery in first aid would be to encourage confidence, provide comfort, and attempt to relieve pain.
The Importance of the 3 Ps in First Aid
The 3 P’s in first aid help you prevent worsening scenarios of a casualty while waiting for emergency services to arrive.
The least a patient wants is more harm. So when a first aider’s goal is preserving life, they will apply the best medical response in their power at that moment.
It can be as simple as assessing the patient or as immediate as performing CPR.
Who Should Learn the 3 Ps in First Aid Training?
EMTs, nurses, doctors, or anyone in the medical field ought to learn about the 3 Ps in first aid.
Since they are primarily the ones who respond to accidents and emergencies, this knowledge should come as an instinct.
However, if, for example, you witness a car wreck, being a certified first aider, even when healthcare is not your day job, can be beneficial.
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What Are the Main Objectives of First Aid Training?
The ultimate objective of first aid is to save people’s lives. Essentially, the 3 Ps are first aid training’s main objectives: preserving life, preventing injury from getting worse, and aiding recovery.
Extended objectives include relieving pain and protecting the unconscious.
First aid is there to reduce the suffering of victims. Relieving pain involves administering pain medication, elevating wounds, and providing ice packs.
Unconscious persons, on the other hand, are more vulnerable and need more protection. As a first aider, start by clearing away any hazardous objects surrounding the victim.
Check their vital signs and make sure they are breathing. In case there are signs of trauma or spinal injury, place the victim in a comfortable position.
Final Words
If you’re interested in learning beyond just the 3 Ps, consider more comprehensive first aid courses, CPR, and AED training.
But now that you know about the 3 P’s of First Aid, you’re off to a good start. You’ll never know; one day, you just might save someone’s life!
