The key aims of first aid can be summarized in three key points:

• Preserve life - the overriding aim of all medical care, including first aid, is to save lives
• Prevent further harm - also sometimes called prevent the condition from worsening,or danger of further injury, this covers both external factors, such as moving a patient away from any cause of harm, and applying first aid techniques to prevent worsening of the condition, such as applying pressure to stop a bleed becoming dangerous.
• Promote recovery - first aid also involves trying to start the recovery process from the illness or injury, and in some cases might involve completing a treatment, such as in the case of applying a plaster to a small wound