Which of the following is an example of a primary prevention strategy?

• A. Community awareness programs on drinking and driving
• B. Construction of guardrails after accidents
• C. Protecting a patient’s spine post-fall
• D. Teaching CPR to new parents

Answer: (A)

The correct answer is community awareness programs on drinking and driving because it exemplifies a primary prevention strategy aimed at preventing injuries and accidents before they occur. Primary prevention focuses on reducing the incidence of disease or injury through educational initiatives, policy changes, and community involvement. By raising awareness about the dangers of drinking and driving, these programs aim to change behaviors and reduce the likelihood of impaired driving, ultimately leading to fewer accidents and fatalities.

In contrast, the construction of guardrails after accidents is more aligned with secondary or tertiary prevention strategies, which deal with minimizing the consequences after an event has occurred. Protecting a patient's spine post-fall is a reactive measure taken after an injury has happened, fitting into a tertiary prevention framework. Teaching CPR to new parents, while beneficial, primarily serves to prepare them for responding to an emergency situation, making it an important but reactive intervention rather than a primary prevention strategy.