What is the basic life support sequence for adults (ABCs) in emergency care?

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

Answer: (B)

The main idea is to secure the airway first, because air must reach the lungs before anything else can matter in a life-threatening emergency. If the airway isn’t open, rescue breaths can’t ventilate the lungs effectively, so nothing else you do will fully help. Once the airway is open, the next step is to provide breathing support if the person isn’t breathing normally, to ensure oxygen enters the lungs. Only after you’ve addressed breathing do you focus on circulation, using chest compressions to maintain blood flow and deliver oxygen to the brain and other vital organs. In adults, this sequence—airway first, then breathing, then circulation—guides the workflow and helps maximize the chances of keeping the person alive until further care arrives.