Primary Survey for First Aid

Conducting a primary survey for life threatening conditions as a part of first aid is as simple as ABC, airway, breathing and circulation. Learning how to do these simple checks can make you a lifesaver.

Before getting into the ABCs of first aid, one thing to remember is to immediately call 911 to get professional help and transport on its way. When calling 911, listen to the dispatcher and answer all their questions. They may even ask you to stay on the line. Many dispatchers are trained as EMDs, Emergency Medical Dispatcher. They can help you with your primary lifesaving survey and other lifesaving interventions you might possibly do before arrival of the EMTs.

The second thing to remember is personal safety. Is the scene safe? What are the dangers? Look for what caused the incident. There may be downed power lines, hazardous materials, fire or maybe an assailant still on scene. Remember to keep yourself safe. You cannot be a part of the solution if you become part of the problem.

Once you have called 911 and determined the scene is safe, you can now begin your primary survey. Remember ABC. A is for airway. Is the victim breathing? B is for breathing. Is the victim breathing? What is the quality of the breaths? C is for circulation. C is for circulation. Does the victim have a pulse? If the victim has a pulse, check for signs of uncontrolled, life threatening bleeding.

The first step in a primary survey for life threatening conditions is to check the airway. Check for victim responsiveness. If the victim is unresponsive, look, listen and feel for signs of breathing. Put your face down near the victims, your cheek close to their mouth. Look toward the victim's chest and observe if there is any chest rise. Do this for five to ten seconds. If you don't feel, hear or see any signs of breath, you should reposition the victims airway using the head tilt, chin lift technique. Only do this in a non-traumatic situation. If you suspect trauma, such as an automobile accident or a fall, use what is called a modified jaw thrust. Once again, look, listen and feel for breaths five to ten seconds. If the victim is not breathing, start rescue breaths. This is the A and B in your primary survey. As you can see, they are really a combined step.

TheC in the survey stands for circulation. The first thing to do is check to see if the victim has a pulse. You do this by feeling for a carotid pulse for five to ten seconds. If the victim is pulseless, start CPR immediately.

The C step is also where you check for uncontrolled bleeding in a victim that has a pulse. Look over the victim head to toe and see if there any major bleeds. Try to control the bleed with direct pressure on the wound.

As with any life saving technique, a little preparedness for emergency situations can go a long way. The American Red Cross and the American Heart Association gives classes in life saving techniques. Go to their websites for information on classes and where in your area you can find one. Many community groups and local fire departments also hold classes. Learn these important skills because you might just be in a situation where you can make a difference.