During the trauma primary assessment, which sequence is represented by ABCDE?

• A. Airway, Breathing, Disability, Circulation, Exposure
• B. Airway, Breathing, Circulation, Disability, Exposure
• C. Airway, Circulation, Breathing, Disability, Exposure
• D. Airway, Breathing, Circulation, Exposure, Disability

Answer: (B)

The sequence in the trauma primary survey is Airway, Breathing, Circulation, Disability, Exposure. This order focuses first on life support: ensuring the airway is open and protected, then assessing and supporting breathing, followed by evaluating circulation and controlling obvious bleeding. Only after those critical functions are stabilized do you quickly check neurologic status (Disability) and then search for hidden injuries (Exposure) while preventing hypothermia.

Airway comes first because a blocked or compromised airway can rapidly become fatal, and you must protect the spine during airway maneuvers. Breathing next ensures the patient is ventilating adequately and receiving oxygen. If breathing is inadequate, you address that before moving on. Circulation follows to identify and control life-threatening bleeding and to assess perfusion, which directly impacts survival. Disability gives a rapid neurologic baseline, guiding urgency and transport decisions, and Exposure is done last to thoroughly inspect for injuries while keeping the patient warm.

Other sequences would disrupt this priority order—for example, assessing circulation before confirming the airway or assessing disability before addressing breathing can miss immediate threats to ventilation or circulation, which are the primary life-threatening concerns in the first moments of trauma.