First Aid and Safety
Exam focus
First Aid and Safety tests the immediate, temporary care given before professional help, and the safety rules that prevent injury in school sport. Expect sequence questions, do and do-not items, and scenario-based decisions.
Core actions
- Primary survey: DRSABCD - Danger, Response, Send for help, Airway, Breathing, CPR, Defibrillation.
- RICE for soft-tissue injury: Rest, Ice for 15–20 minutes with a cloth barrier, Compression, Elevation. Avoid heat, alcohol, running, and massage in the first 48–72 hours.
- Fracture: immobilize and support; do not attempt to straighten; control bleeding with direct pressure.
- Choking: encourage coughing; if ineffective, give back blows and abdominal thrusts according to age.
- Burns: cool with running water for at least 20 minutes; do not apply ice, butter, or toothpaste.
Worked example
A player rolls an ankle during kabaddi and it swells within minutes. The first-aider removes footwear, applies an ice pack wrapped in cloth for 15–20 minutes, compresses with an elastic bandage that is not too tight, elevates the leg, and refers for assessment. Reasoning: the signs suggest a sprain, not a fracture; ice and compression limit swelling, while early referral checks for bony injury.
Traps
- Applying heat or massage immediately after a sprain.
- Putting ice directly on skin for long periods.
- Trying to straighten a suspected fracture.
- Giving food or drink to an unconscious casualty.