What is first aid?

• A. The initial assistance given to a casualty before the arrival of a medically qualified person
• B. Long-term medical treatment after hospital
• C. Administrative duties in clinic
• D. Disinfecting equipment

Answer: (A)

First aid is the initial assistance provided to a casualty at the scene before medical professionals arrive. It focuses on preserving life, preventing the situation from getting worse, and keeping the person stable until further help can take over. This includes quick safety checks, assessing responsiveness, calling emergency services, and giving essential care such as basic life support, controlling bleeding, immobilizing injuries, and attending to obvious injuries with simple, appropriate measures. It’s immediate and temporary care, not a substitute for proper medical treatment.

The other options describe activities outside the immediate, temporary care first aid provides: long-term medical treatment after hospital, administrative duties in a clinic, and disinfecting equipment. These are important in their own right, but they aren’t what first aid is about.