Wikibooks has a book on the topic of First Aid ABC (and extensions of this acronym) is a mnemonic for memorizing essential steps in dealing with an unconscious or unresponsive patient. It stands for Airway, Breathing and Circulation. Some protocols add additional steps, such as an optional "D" step for Disability (disabilities caused by the injury, not pre-existing conditions) or Defibrillation (when used as a CPR protocol). It is a reminder of the priorities for assessment and treatment of many acute medical situations, from first-aid to hospital medical treatment. Airway, breathing and circulation are vital for life, and each is required, in that order, for the next to be effective. Image File history File links Wikibooks-logo-en. ...
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It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Backronym and Apronym (Discuss) Acronyms and initialisms are abbreviations, such as NATO, laser, and ABC, written as the initial letter or letters of words, and pronounced on the basis of this abbreviated written form. ...
Wikiquote has a collection of quotations related to: English mnemonics A mnemonic (pronounced in RP, [nɪmɑnɪk] in GA) is a memory aid, and most serve an educational purpose. ...
Unconsciousness is the absence of consciousness. ...
The airways are those parts of the respiratory system through which air flows, to get from the external environment to the alveoli. ...
Breathing transports oxygen into the body and carbon dioxide out of the body. ...
Diagram of the human circulatory system. ...
Typical view of the defibrillator operator. ...
History of the Mnemonic
The 'ABC' method of remembering the correct protocol for CPR is almost as old as the procedure itself, and is an important part of the history of CPR. It was first seen in a 1962 training video called "The Pulse of Life" created by James Jude, Guy Knickerbocker and Peter Safar. Jude and Knickerbocker, along with William Kouwenhouen discovered the method of external chest compressions, whereas Safar worked with James Elam to prove the effectiveness of artificial respiration. Their combined findings were presented at annual Maryland Medical Society meeting on September 16, 1960 in Ocean City, and gained rapid and widespread acceptance over the following decade, helped by the video and speaking tour they undertook. History of CPR Ancient Resuscitation The desire to resuscitate is as old as recorded history. ...
Peter Safar was an Austrian physician of Czech descent, born April 12, 1924 in Vienna (Austria), died August 2, 2003 in Mt. ...
James Otis Elam, (1918 – 10 July 1995) was a US M.D. and respiratory researcher. ...
Parts of the Mnemonic The key part of the mnemonic is made up of the first three letters of the alphabet - A,B & C. Together they are designed to remind practitioners of the correct procedure (including the order) in which to deal with a non-breathing patient.
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 the first step in treating any patient. Common problems with the airway involve blockage by the tongue or vomit.
Initial opening of the airway is often achieved by a "head tilt - chin lift" or jaw thrust technique, although further manoeuvres such as intubation may be necessary. (See Airway) This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ...
The airways are those parts of the respiratory system through which air flows, to get from the external environment to the alveoli. ...
B - Breathing The patient is next assessed for breathing. Common findings during an assessment of breathing may include normal breathing, noisy breathing, gasping or coughing. The rescuer proceeds to act on these based on his/her training. Generally at this point it will become clear whether or not the casualty needs supportive care (such as the recovery position) or Rescue Breathing. A form of the recovery position. ...
// Definition Rescue Breathing is a First Aid protocol which refers to the delivery of air from a person into a patient who has stopped breathing but continues to have a pulse. ...
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. This can be assessed in a number of ways, including a pulse check, ECG analysis, or Capillary refill time. For other uses, see Pulse (disambiguation). ...
“QRS†redirects here. ...
Capillary refill refers to the rate at which blood is filled into empty small blood vessels. ...
Circulation is the original meaning of the 'C' as laid down by Jude, Knickerbocker & Safar, but in some revised modern protocols, this step stands for Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation or more simply, Compressions, which is effectively artificial circulation. In this case, this step should only apply to those patients who are in Cardiogenic or other form of Shock, and therefore not breathing normally and with an unsatisfactory heart rhythm. For other meanings of CPR, see CPR (disambiguation). ...
Cardiogenic shock is based upon an inadequate circulation of blood due to primary failure of the ventricles of the heart to function effectively. ...
Variations Nearly all first aid organisations use the ABC acronym in some form, but some incorporate it as part of a larger acronym, meaning it can vary from the simple 'ABCD' (designed for training lay responders in defibrillation) to 'AcBCDEEEFG' (the UK ambulance service version for patient assessment).
DR ABC One of the most widely used adaptations, is the addition of a DR in front of the ABC acronym, which stands for Danger and Response. This refers to the guiding principle in first aid to protect yourself before attempting to help others, and then ascertaining that the patient is unresponsive before attempting to treat them. As the acronym was originally devised for in-hospital use, this was not part of the original protocol[1]
ABCD There are several protocols taught which add a D to the end of the simpler ABC (or DR ABC). This may stand for different things, depending on what the trainer is trying to teach, and at what level. It can stand for: - Defibrillation - The definitive treatment step for cardiac arrest
- Disability - Disabilities caused by the injury, not pre-existing conditions
- Deadly Bleeding
Typical view of the defibrillator operator. ...
Blood from a finger Bleeding is the loss of blood from the body. ...
ABCDE Additionally, some protocols call for an 'E' step to patient assessment. At this point, all protocols diverge from looking after basic life support, and are looking for underlying causes. In some protocols, there can be up to 3 E's used. E can stand for: - Environment - only after assessing ABCD does the responder deal with environmentally-related symptoms or conditions, such as cold and lightning.
- Escaping Air - Checking for air escaping, such as through a sucking chest wound, which could lead to a collapsed lung.
- Expose and Examine - Predominantly for ambulance level practitioners, where it is important to remove clothing and other obstructions in order to assess wounds.
Hypothermia refers to any condition in which the temperature of a body drops below the level required for normal metabolism and/or bodily function to take place. ...
This article needs additional references or sources to improve its verifiability. ...
ABCDEF An 'F' in the protocol can stand for: - Fundus - relating to pregnancy, it is a reminder for crews to check if a female is pregnant, and if she is, how far progressed she is (the position of the fundus in relation to the bellybutton gives a ready reckoning guide)
The fundus of the uterus is the top portion opposite from the cervix. ...
ABCDEFG A 'G' in the protocol can stand for - Go Quickly! - A reminder to ensure all assessments and on-scene treatments are completed with speed, in order to get the patient to hospital within the Golden Hour
In emergency medicine the golden hour is the first sixty minutes after an accident or the onset of acute illness. ...
AcBC Some trainers and protocols use and additional (small) 'c' in between the A and B, and this stands for 'C-Spine' or 'consider c-spine'. This is a reminder to be aware of potential neck injuries to a patient, as opening the airway may cause further damage, unless a special technique is used.
See also // Definition Rescue Breathing is a First Aid protocol which refers to the delivery of air from a person into a patient who has stopped breathing but continues to have a pulse. ...
A form of the recovery position. ...
Ventricular fibrillation (V-fib or VF) is a cardiac condition which consists of a lack of coordination of the contraction of the muscle tissue of the large chambers of the heart that eventually leads to the heart stopping altogether. ...
In medicine, asystole is a state of no cardiac electrical activity, hence no contractions of the myocardium and no cardiac output or blood flow. ...
Ventricular tachycardia (V-tach or VT) is a fast rhythm that originates in one of the ventricles of the heart. ...
Wikibooks has more about this subject: First Aid/CPR Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is an emergency first aid procedure for a victim of cardiac arrest. ...
Wikibooks has a book on the topic of First Aid Artificial respiration is a technique for providing air for a person who is not breathing on their own, but whose heart is still beating. ...
First aid is a series of simple, life-saving medical techniques that a non-doctor or layman can be trained to perform. ...
References - ^ Committee on CPR of the Division of Medical Sciences, National Academy of Sciences-National Research Council, Cardiopulmonary resuscitation, JAMA 1966;198:372-379 and 138-145.
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