Primary Assessment

Primary assessment is the initial step healthcare providers or first responders take to quickly evaluate a person's condition, focusing on life-threatening issues. They systematically check airway, breathing, and circulation (often summarized as ABCs) to ensure the person can breathe, their airway is clear, and blood is circulating properly. This assessment helps identify urgent problems requiring immediate intervention, like clearing the airway, stopping severe bleeding, or starting CPR. Conducted swiftly and efficiently, primary assessment guides the immediate actions needed to stabilize the patient before further evaluation and treatment.