In emergency assessment, ABC stands for which trio of priorities?

• A. Airway, Blood Pressure, Circulation
• B. Airway, Breathing, Circulation
• C. Oxygenation, Breathing, Circulation
• D. Airway, Breathing, Compliance

Answer: (B)

The main idea being tested is the order of actions in an emergency assessment: secure the airway first, then ensure breathing, then assess and support circulation. If the airway isn’t open, air cannot reach the lungs, so ventilation and oxygen delivery can’t happen, and the situation can deteriorate rapidly. Once the airway is cleared or protected, you check and support breathing to ensure adequate ventilation and oxygenation. After those steps, focus on circulation to maintain perfusion to vital organs and control or stop life-threatening bleeding.

That’s why the correct trio is Airway, Breathing, Circulation. The other options mix in a measurement (blood pressure), a broader concept (oxygenation), or an unrelated term (compliance) that doesn’t reflect the immediate, sequential actions used in emergency assessment.