Checking the victim's ABCs begins with which action?

Checking the victim's ABCs begins with which action?

• A. feeling for a pulse
• B. looking for chest movement
• C. listening for breathing sounds
• D. checking for response

Answer: (C)

When you’re evaluating the victim’s ABCs, you’re checking Airway, Breathing, and Circulation in that order of concern. The quickest way to know if the person is actually breathing is to listen for breath sounds. Listening directly for air coming in and out confirms whether airflow is occurring, which is essential for deciding your next step. While you can also look for chest movement or feel for air, those signs aren’t as definitive on their own—chest movement can be subtle or misleading in some situations, and feeling for a pulse is a test of circulation rather than breathing. Checking for a response relates to consciousness, not to whether air is moving, so it doesn’t answer the breathing question. Therefore, listening for breathing sounds is the best starting action when assessing breathing as part of the ABCs, and if no normal breathing is heard, you’d proceed to CPR.

When you’re evaluating the victim’s ABCs, you’re checking Airway, Breathing, and Circulation in that order of concern. The quickest way to know if the person is actually breathing is to listen for breath sounds. Listening directly for air coming in and out confirms whether airflow is occurring, which is essential for deciding your next step. While you can also look for chest movement or feel for air, those signs aren’t as definitive on their own—chest movement can be subtle or misleading in some situations, and feeling for a pulse is a test of circulation rather than breathing. Checking for a response relates to consciousness, not to whether air is moving, so it doesn’t answer the breathing question. Therefore, listening for breathing sounds is the best starting action when assessing breathing as part of the ABCs, and if no normal breathing is heard, you’d proceed to CPR.