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ABC stands for Airway, Breathing and Circulation. It is a useful reminder for many acute medical situations, from first-aid to hospital medical treatment. Airway, breathing and circulation are vital for life, and each is required for the next to be effective.

A - Airway

• If the patient's airway is blocked, oxygen cannot reach the lungs and so cannot be transported round the body in the blood
• Ensuring a clear airway is is the first step in treating any patient

• How:
  • Check to make sure that the airway is clear
  • If there is an obvious obstruction in the mouth, then remove it. Do not remove false teeth if they are well fitting, and do not attempt a finger sweep as this may push [[foreign bodies[[ further into the airway.
  • Once the airway is clear, open it by tilting the head back. This lifts the [[tongue[[ away from the back of the throat. (if there is danger of a neck injury, the head should not be tilted as this could cause further damage. A [[jaw thrust[[ is suitable in this situation).

B - Breathing

• Once the patient has a clear airway, then they need to be assessed to see if they are breathing

• How:
  • Look, listen and feel for breathing
  • This means watching for the chest rising, listening for breathing with your cheek over the patient's mouth, and feeling for breath on your cheek
  • Assess breathing for up to ten seconds

• If there is breathing:
  • Place the patient in the recovery position and call for help

• If there is no breathing:
  • National guidelines vary
  • Begin rescue breathing - mouth-to-mouth, mouth-to-nose or mouth-to-stoma

C - Circulation

• Once oxygen can be delivered to the lungs by a clear airway and efficient breathing, there needs to be a circulation to deliver it to the rest of the body

• How:
  • • National guidelines vary
    • Circulation can be assessed by checking for a pulse or looking for signs of life
    • The pulse can be checked in the neck carotid pulse (not in UK)
    • Signs of life include movement, coughing, breathing, pink colour

• If there are no signs of life / pulse:
  • Start CPR

Discussion

Within the UK, resuscitation guidelines have recently changed. The pulse check has been dropped in favour of checking for signs of life, as this is more accurate and reproducible.

Check with your national governing body for correct guidelines.

Links

Template:Http://www.resus.org.uk Resuscitation Council (UK)

• First aid
• Resuscitation