Which order is typically used in a rapid primary assessment?

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

Answer: (A)

Securing the airway comes first. If the airway is blocked or not open, air cannot reach the lungs, so oxygen can’t be delivered to the heart and brain no matter what you do next. Quick steps focus on opening the airway, clearing obstructions if present, and using the safest technique given possible injuries.

After the airway is open, check breathing. You need to know if the person is actually ventilating. Look for chest rise, listen for breath sounds, and feel for air flow. If there’s no breathing or it’s insufficient, provide rescue breaths and advance oxygen delivery as needed.

Only after airway and breathing are addressed do you evaluate circulation. This means checking for signs of perfusion and controlling major bleeding. If the patient has a pulse and good perfusion, continue monitoring; if there’s no pulse or signs of shock, follow the appropriate life-support steps. This sequence prioritizes the actions that keep oxygen moving through the body, which is why it’s used in rapid primary assessments.