What are the steps of the primary patient assessment on scene (ABCs)?

• A. Ensure scene safety; check Airway, Breathing, Circulation; control life-threatening conditions; provide rapid transport if needed.
• B. Check Circulation, then Airway, then Breathing; no transport.
• C. Check PPE first; ignore scene safety.
• D. Check for injuries; call for more units.

Answer: (C)

The main idea here is the proper sequence and priorities of the on-scene primary patient assessment. You start by making the scene safe and applying your PPE, so you can approach the patient without introducing hazards to yourself or bystanders. After safety is established, you run the primary survey focused on Airway, Breathing, and Circulation to rapidly identify and treat life-threatening conditions. If you find an obstructed airway, trouble with breathing, or severe bleeding, you address those immediately and arrange rapid transport if needed. This approach protects you and ensures the most dangerous problems are managed first.

The other options miss key parts of this sequence. One option asks you to check PPE before (or instead of) scene safety, which isn’t acceptable because scene safety must come first. Another option reverses the ABC order or omits the transport decision, and another focuses only on injuries without addressing the ABC priorities.