First Aid Acronyms Explained – PPP
The 3 Priorities of First Aid:
P – Preserve life
P – Prevent worsening
P – Promote recovery
An acronym is a word or name formed as an abbreviation, created from the initial letters of a phrase or a word. The first aid world uses many acronyms to help us remember different treatments. In this series we have explained the meanings of the most common first aid acronyms to help you avoid confusion!
The first aid acronym PPP or the 3 P’s describes the responsibilities of a first aider at an accident site. These are often overlooked in first aid training but with these simple rules a first aider can do a lot of good casualty care and protect themselves from harm.
Preserve life – The first aider must look after themselves. If the first aider is injured no one will be there to call for help or look after the casualty. Check for potential cross contamination issues at the scene. Remember to make sure bystanders are safe too.
Prevent worsening – Whatever has happened to the casualty, don’t make it any worse. This is actually quite simple. Follow the basic rules of ABC (Airway, Breathing, Circulation), this will help you make decisions about any treatment required. Remember to only do what is reasonable and what you have been trained to do.
Promote recovery – Don’t forget the basics. Staying calm, holding someone’s hand and talking nicely will help the casualty to feel better. Be sympathetic to the casualty – these are the things they are likely to remember following the incident. Call the emergency services if required.
In the vast majority of first aid incidents where injuries are minor, these priorities are easy to follow through. However in the instance of a serious incident with multiple changing circumstances, sometimes we have to simply concentrate on the first priority of preserving life and calling the emergency services.
To really find out and understand how these priorities are used in practice, coming on one of our first aid courses is essential. Just click the button below to find out more.
You might also be interested in other First Aid Acronyms Explained in our blog series – the next one is C.L.A.P. which further explains how to manage a first aid incident scene.
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