In first aid, emergency action principles seek to describe what to do when encountering an emergency situation.

Traditionally the method has been called ABC for "Airway", "Breathing" and "Circulation". Easy to remember and in order of importance. However, in the military a "H" Hazardous situation is sometimes added, and the B stands for "Bleeding", as the military patient will probably bleed more often than not, making it HABC, or by some training organisations "Danger" and "Response" are added making DR ABC.

The remainder of this article contains one such formulation.

1. Survey the scene What’s going on? Is it safe for me to approach?
2. Do a primary survey Airway, Breathing, Circulation
3. Call for emergency services
4. Do a secondary survey, and provide appropriate emergency first aid

Survey the scene

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Survey the scene and approach the victim. Determine whether the scene is safe. Look for any dangers, such as downed powerlines, traffic, unstable structures or swift-moving water. Determine what may have happened, how many victims are involved, and if any bystanders can help. If you cannot safely enter the scene, wait for other help to arrive or attempt to fix the problem. Remember, an unconscious or dead rescuer is an ineffective rescuer. STOP if you have safety concerns.

Do a primary survey

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Perform an initial assessment. Get consent from a conscious victim (parent/guardian if the victim is a minor) before providing care. If the victim is unconscious, consent is implied. Use infection control precautions and check for signs and symptoms of any life-threatening conditions and care for them. To perform an initial assessment:

• Check the victim for consciousness and obtain consent if the victim is conscious;
• Check the ABCs (airway, breathing and circulation); and
• Check for severe bleeding.

Care for the conditions that you find.

Do not move victims unless it is necessary to remove them from danger, or to make treatment possible (such as onto a hard surface for CPR).

Calling 911 for emergency help must take priority over actions such as rescue breathing or CPR, since they are intended to gain time for emergency services to arrive as part of the chain of survival. However, if bystanders are available, both can be pursued at the same time.

Call for emergency services

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The next step is to activate emergency medical services by calling for help using a local emergency telephone number, such as 911 in Canada or the United States, 999 in the UK, 112 in most of continential Europe, 000 in Australia and 111 in New Zealand. Operators will generally require the caller's name and location and some information on person that is being called about (level of consciousness, injuries, name if known, chronic medical illnessess if known).

If you ask bystanders to call an ambulance for you, make sure they report back to you once released by the emergency operator to confirm that the call has been made. See Call for help.

Also note that in some circumstances, such as in remote areas or on the battlefield, outside help may be unavailable. The skill of wilderness first aid covers other measures including evacuation, but is no substitute for a medical professional if one can be located.

Do a secondary survey

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The secondary survey is to gather information about conditions or injuries that may not be life threatening, but may become so if not cared for.

Perform a secondary survey only if you are sure that the victim has no life threatening (ABC) conditions.

• Interview the victim.
  • Pain,
  • medical conditions,
  • medications,
  • allergies,
  • when did you last eat or drink?

• Interview bystanders

• Head-to-toe examination (for a child, toe-to-head)
  • medical alert bracelets
  • compare one side against the other
  • pain, deformation

This is intended as a quick guide only. Effective CPR and first aid require hands-on training that can only be accomplished by attending a class in person, such as those run by national Red Cross and Red Crescent societies or Life Savers: CPR and First Aid Training.

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First_aid