Which statement about the ABCs is correct?

Which statement about the ABCs is correct?

• A. Airway, Breathing, Circulation
• B. Breathing, Airway, Circulation
• C. Airway, Circulation, Breathing
• D. Defibrillation, Airway, Breathing

Answer: (A)

In emergencies, priorities are guided by the order Airway, Breathing, Circulation. The airway must be opened and kept clear first, because if air cannot reach the lungs, ventilation won’t work no matter what you do next. Once the airway is open, you check and support breathing to ensure air is actually entering the lungs and oxygen is available in the blood. Only after you’ve addressed airway and breathing do you focus on circulation, since delivering oxygen to tissues depends on blood flow; without circulation, oxygen won’t reach vital organs even if the person is breathing. Defibrillation, while crucial in CPR for some cardiac arrests, isn’t part of the ABC sequence itself, which is why Airway, Breathing, Circulation is the correct ordering.

In emergencies, priorities are guided by the order Airway, Breathing, Circulation. The airway must be opened and kept clear first, because if air cannot reach the lungs, ventilation won’t work no matter what you do next. Once the airway is open, you check and support breathing to ensure air is actually entering the lungs and oxygen is available in the blood. Only after you’ve addressed airway and breathing do you focus on circulation, since delivering oxygen to tissues depends on blood flow; without circulation, oxygen won’t reach vital organs even if the person is breathing. Defibrillation, while crucial in CPR for some cardiac arrests, isn’t part of the ABC sequence itself, which is why Airway, Breathing, Circulation is the correct ordering.