What are the steps of the primary survey in athletic injury assessment?

• A. Airway, Breathing, Circulation, Disability, Exposure; assess life threats first and stabilize the spine if trauma is suspected.
• B. Airway, Breathing, Circulation
• C. Airway, Breathing, Circulation, Injury
• D. Airway, Circulation, Breathing, Exposure

Answer: (A)

The main idea is to rapidly identify and manage life-threatening problems in a systematic way. The primary survey uses the ABCDE sequence: Airway, Breathing, Circulation, Disability, Exposure. Airway comes first because without a clear airway the body can’t oxygenate, and if trauma is suspected you must protect the cervical spine during this step. Next you assess Breathing to ensure adequate ventilation and oxygen delivery. Then you check Circulation for signs of severe bleeding and perfusion problems. After that, Disability is evaluated to gauge neurological status (level of consciousness, pupils, etc.), which helps detect head or spinal injuries. Finally, Exposure means you fully expose the patient to look for hidden injuries, while taking steps to prevent hypothermia.

This ordering and inclusion are why this option is best: it covers all five components and explicitly notes life threats are addressed first and spine stabilization is considered if trauma is suspected. The other options miss essential steps (like Disability or Exposure) or rearrange the sequence in a way that isn’t consistent with standard trauma assessment, making them less complete or accurate.