What is the standard sequence of a Primary Survey in patient assessment?

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

Answer: (C)

Securing the airway first is essential because without a patent airway you can’t effectively ventilate or oxygenate the patient, and brain and organ tissues begin to suffer within minutes of hypoxia. Once the airway is open and patent, you can properly assess and support breathing to ensure adequate ventilation and gas exchange. If breathing is inadequate, you provide rescue breaths or assist with a bag-valve mask while maintaining the airway. Only after these steps are underway do you evaluate circulation, looking for a pulse, perfusion, and any life-threatening bleeding, and you take action to restore or support circulation as needed. Choosing to start with breathing or circulation would delay critical steps; an obstructed airway can render attempts to breathe or circulate ineffective, so the airway must be established first, followed by breathing, then circulation.