What does the acronym ABC stand for in emergency care?

The acronym ABC stands for Airway, Breathing, and Circulation, which represents the critical steps in assessing and managing a patient's life-threatening conditions in emergency care.

Airway is the first priority; ensuring that the airway is clear and unobstructed is essential for effective breathing. If the airway is compromised, oxygen exchange cannot occur, leading to life-threatening situations.

Breathing follows next, where the adequacy of the patient's respirations must be evaluated. If a patient is not breathing adequately, interventions like bag-mask ventilation may be necessary.

Circulation is the final component that must be assessed to determine if the heart is effectively pumping blood and delivering oxygen to the tissues. This includes checking for pulse, skin signs, and signs of shock.

Understanding the ABCs helps emergency responders prioritize life-saving interventions systematically. The other options introduce components that are important in patient care, but they do not capture the critical order and basic principles found in the ABCs framework for immediate life support.