In the event of an injury, what is the primary goal of first aid?

The primary goal of first aid is to provide initial treatment to an injured person. This involves administering immediate care to manage the person's condition and prevent it from worsening until professional medical help can arrive. Initial treatment may include actions like stopping bleeding, performing CPR, or stabilizing a broken bone.

While comforting the victim is a considerate action that may be part of the overall response to an emergency, it is secondary to the need for effective treatment. Diagnosing the injury is typically the role of medical professionals, not first responders; they may assess the situation but should not focus on diagnosing the injury in detail. Transportation of the victim, although necessary in some circumstances, falls under the umbrella of professional medical help and is not the immediate focus of first aid. Therefore, providing initial treatment is the fundamental objective of first aid protocols.