First Aid, Injuries, Physiology and Rehabilitation
This domain mixes emergency procedure with injury classification and recovery science. Diagrams and “what would you do first?” questions are common.
First aid essentials
Primary survey DRABC - Danger, Response, Airway, Breathing, Circulation. CPR: 30 chest compressions to 2 rescue breaths, compressions at 100–120 per minute, depth about 5–6 cm in adults. Never move a suspected spinal injury casually; never give fluids to an unconscious casualty.
Injury classification
- Sprain - overstretched or torn ligament at a joint.
- Strain - overstretched or torn muscle or tendon.
- Contusion - bruise from blunt force.
- Fracture - break in bone (simple/compound, closed/open).
- Dislocation - displacement of bone ends at a joint.
- Concussion - head injury with confusion, headache, nausea; the athlete must not return to play.
- Cramp - sudden painful muscle contraction; heat exhaustion - sweating, weakness, pale skin.
Soft tissue injury management
PRICE - Protect, Rest, Ice (15–20 minutes every 2–3 hours for the first 48 hours), Compress, Elevate. Heat and massage are avoided in the first 48 hours. Healing phases: inflammation → repair → remodelling.
Physiology and rehabilitation
Muscle types (skeletal, smooth, cardiac); oxygen debt; second wind; vital capacity; cardiac output = stroke volume × heart rate. Rehabilitation modalities: cryotherapy, thermotherapy, ultrasound, TENS, massage and progressive exercise, returning the athlete gradually to full load.
Worked example
A volleyball player lands and inverts the ankle; swelling appears within minutes. Answer in order: PRICE, reason for each step (ice reduces swelling and pain, compression limits oedema, elevation drains fluid), then a no-weight-bearing period and a gradual return with strengthening and balance work. Order and reasoning earn the marks, not the acronym alone.
Traps
- Applying heat or massage in the first 48 hours.
- Sending a concussed player back on after “feeling fine”.
- Confusing sprain (ligament) with strain (muscle/tendon).