In first aid, why is it crucial to keep an injured person calm?

Keeping an injured person calm is crucial primarily to avoid panic and further injury. When a person is anxious or panicked, their heart rate may increase, which can lead to heightened stress responses such as hyperventilation. This can exacerbate their condition, especially if they are experiencing pain or have a serious injury. Additionally, panic can cause the injured person to act irrationally, potentially leading to movements that could worsen their injuries or create new ones.

A calm environment allows for clearer communication and greater cooperation between the injured person and the first aid provider, which is essential for providing effective care. It creates a safety net that enables the responder to assess the situation calmly and administer aid appropriately without added complications from the patient’s anxiety.

While factors such as preventing unnecessary movement, encouraging healing, and ensuring the individual listens to instructions can all be important aspects of first aid, the overarching priority is to maintain calmness to minimize the risk of panic and further harm.