PAWS stands for?

• A. Pain, analgesics, wounds, stabilization
• B. Pain, antibiotics, wounds, splinting
• C. Pressure, antibiotics, wounds, splinting
• D. Pain, antibiotics, injuries, splinting

Answer: (B)

PAWS is a quick guide to priorities in initial wound care: Pain, antibiotics, wounds, splinting. Addressing pain helps keep the patient comfortable and reduces the body’s stress response, making it easier to assess and manage injuries. Including antibiotics highlights the importance of preventing infection in open wounds. Proper wound management involves cleaning and dressing to promote healing. Splinting immobilizes the injured area to prevent further damage and reduce pain during movement. This combination—pain control, infection prevention, wound care, and immobilization—matches the listed correct choice. The other options mix in different terms (like pressure or injuries) or substitute elements (such as stabilization instead of splinting or analgesics without antibiotics), which don’t align with PAWS.