What 5 steps should be performed during an initial assessment?

What 5 steps should be performed during an initial assessment?

• A. Airway status, Breathing, Circulation, Disability, Exposure
• B. Scene safety, Immediate transport, Documentation, Consent
• C. Number of patients; General condition of patient(s); Mechanism of injury; Level of consciousness; Causes or symptoms of shock
• D. Blood pressure, Heart rate, Temperature, Respiratory rate

Answer: (B)

Begin with a rapid, structured primary survey to identify and treat immediate life threats. The five steps are Airway status, Breathing, Circulation, Disability, and Exposure. Airway status focuses on keeping the airway open and clear. Check for obstructions, abnormal sounds, or signs of airway compromise, and take quick actions such as suctioning, repositioning, or using maneuvers (like jaw thrust in trauma) to maintain patency. Breathing assesses whether the patient is ventilating adequately. Look for normal chest rise, breathing effort, rate, and signs of distress. If breathing is insufficient, provide appropriate ventilation support right away, such as a bag-valve-mask device and supplemental oxygen. Circulation evaluates blood flow and perfusion. Check for a strong or weak pulse, skin color and temperature, capillary refill, and obvious severe bleeding. Control hemorrhage and support circulation as needed, addressing signs of shock and ensuring airway and breathing are stabilized first. Disability surveys neurologic status quickly. Determine level of consciousness, responsiveness, orientation, and, when feasible, pupils. A rapid assessment helps identify brain injury or other neurological issues that require urgent attention. Exposure means thoroughly examining the patient for hidden injuries while preventing heat loss. Fully expose the patient as needed to assess for injuries, then cover up to maintain body temperature. This sequence matters because addressing airway and breathing first prevents hypoxia, followed by ensuring circulation, then evaluating neurologic status, and finally checking for injuries on the body. The other steps you might consider in a broader assessment (scene safety, mechanism, or vital signs) don’t provide the same rapid, life-threatening focus in the initial survey.

Begin with a rapid, structured primary survey to identify and treat immediate life threats. The five steps are Airway status, Breathing, Circulation, Disability, and Exposure.

Airway status focuses on keeping the airway open and clear. Check for obstructions, abnormal sounds, or signs of airway compromise, and take quick actions such as suctioning, repositioning, or using maneuvers (like jaw thrust in trauma) to maintain patency.

Breathing assesses whether the patient is ventilating adequately. Look for normal chest rise, breathing effort, rate, and signs of distress. If breathing is insufficient, provide appropriate ventilation support right away, such as a bag-valve-mask device and supplemental oxygen.

Circulation evaluates blood flow and perfusion. Check for a strong or weak pulse, skin color and temperature, capillary refill, and obvious severe bleeding. Control hemorrhage and support circulation as needed, addressing signs of shock and ensuring airway and breathing are stabilized first.

Disability surveys neurologic status quickly. Determine level of consciousness, responsiveness, orientation, and, when feasible, pupils. A rapid assessment helps identify brain injury or other neurological issues that require urgent attention.

Exposure means thoroughly examining the patient for hidden injuries while preventing heat loss. Fully expose the patient as needed to assess for injuries, then cover up to maintain body temperature.

This sequence matters because addressing airway and breathing first prevents hypoxia, followed by ensuring circulation, then evaluating neurologic status, and finally checking for injuries on the body. The other steps you might consider in a broader assessment (scene safety, mechanism, or vital signs) don’t provide the same rapid, life-threatening focus in the initial survey.