Prioritise
Assess airway, breathing, circulation, disability and exposure in sequence.
MEDIVEERSETHE PRACTICAL HUBOBSERVE / REASON / EXPLAIN
ABCDE assessment
Explain a structured initial assessment.
Your practical station
A patient arrives acutely unwell. Explain your assessment priorities and when you would call for help.
Recognise and interpret
Identify and address immediate threats while repeatedly reassessing the patient.
- Prioritise
- Act and call
- Reassess
Act and call
Seek appropriate help and address threats as they are identified within training.
Reassess
Repeat assessment after interventions and communicate changes.
At the viva table
Try answering aloud, then open the suggested answer. Examiner questions vary.
01 / What does ABCDE stand for?
Airway, breathing, circulation, disability and exposure.
02 / Must a full history precede immediate threat assessment?
No. Immediate threats take priority.
03 / Why reassess?
The patient and response to treatment can change.
04 / Does the framework replace clinical judgement?
No. It organises assessment and escalation.