Authors : Betânia Ferreira (internal medicine) and Cláudio Ferreira (nurse coordinator at LUZ 24 ) In first aid and emergency medicine, ABCDE has a specific meaning. It is a systematic approach used in clinical emergencies, in both adults and children, to rapidly identify problems affecting vital functions and establish priorities for intervention. Although it can be used by people with some first aid knowledge, usually in a simplified form, the ABCDE assessment is mainly used by professionals involved in emergency care , such as doctors, nurses, pre-hospital emergency technicians and firefighters. In situations involving unconsciousness or an altered level of consciousness, it allows them to quickly and systematically: Assess a person logically and rapidly, without the risk of overlooking important signs; Identify the most serious problems in order of priority, taking into account the potential risk to life; Intervene immediately when a life-threatening problem is identified. What ABCDE stands for In the context of this assessment, ABCDE can be summarized as follows: A – Airway At this stage, the aim is to check whether the airway is open (patent), allowing air to reach the lungs. Look for: Airway obstruction, caused by vomit, food or a foreign object, for example; Abnormal sounds that may indicate airway obstruction. B – Breathing The aim is to check whether the person is breathing normally, as breathing may be abnormal even when the airway is open. This involves assessing: Whether there are regular breathing movements, for example by watching the chest and checking for exhaled air by bringing your cheek and ear close to the person’s mouth and nose; Signs of difficulty breathing, such a bluish color of the lips, fingers or toes. C – Circulation The aim is to identify anything that may interfere with the ability of circulatory system to transport blood and oxygen, as well as signs that this may be happening, for example: Severe bleeding; Signs that may indicate circulatory problems, such as changes in pulse, body temperature or skin color, cold sweats or confusion, among others. D – Disability The aim is to rapidly assess brain function: The person’s level of consciousness is assessed, including whether they are alert, respond to voice or pain, are confused, or are unresponsive; The pupils are assessed and blood glucose is measured. E – Exposure At this stage, the person is examined more generally to look for signs that may have been missed during the previous, more focused stages. These may include wounds, burns, skin rashes, deformities or signs of trauma, among others, which may help identify the cause of the problem and/or require treatment. When you need to help someone When helping someone who is unconscious or has a significantly altered level of consciousness, anyone, even without specific knowledge of the ABCDE assessment, will most commonly apply its first two steps: Check whether the airway is open (A) and whether the person is breathing normally (B), before placing them in the recovery position . If the person is unconscious and is not breathing normally, they will usually require basic life support (BLS). Source Thim T, Krarup NH, Grove Elet al. I nitial assessment and treatment with the airway, breathing, circulation, disability, exposure (ABCDE) approach . Int J Gen Med 2012;5:117-21. The content published in the Health Guide is intended for the general public and is provided for informational and educational purposes only. It does not replace individual medical assessment, diagnosis, or personalized clinical advice from a qualified healthcare professional. The content is produced or reviewed by physicians and other healthcare professionals at Hospital da Luz and is based on the knowledge available at the time of publication or the most recent update, as indicated at the beginning of each item. English translation generated with AI and reviewed by the editorial team.
