(a)(i)    What is First Aid?                                                                                           [3 marks]
   (ii)     State three objectives of first aid.                                                                  [3 marks]

(b)        State two differences between muscle pull and muscle cramp.                     [4 marks]

This question was attempted by many candidates and the candidates’ performance was good.

In part (a)(ii) where candidates were required to state objectives of first aid, candidates wrote to carry victim, to treat casualty and to stop bleeding as objectives of first aid.  In part (b) few candidates wrote wrong answers such as muscle pull is found in the knee while muscle cramp is found in the shoulder muscle cramp is flexible while muscle pull is rigid, muscle cramp occurs in the feet and fingers while muscle cramp happens due to failure to eat while pull affects those who eat much.

 

 

The expected answers were as follows:

• Objective of first aid
• relieve pain
• prevent injury from worsening/explained
• aid quick recovery
• save/preserve/sustain life                                                                                

 

• Differences between muscle pull and cramp

Muscle Pull

• occurs when opposing muscles contract at the same time
• muscle contracts violently without relaxing
• muscle tear may occur

Muscle cramp

• occurs due to lack of salt in the muscle
• sudden contraction of voluntary muscle
• a severe muscular spasm.
• accumulation of lactic acid in the tissue