How to Conduct a Primary Survey of an Injured Person During First Aid

Once a rescuer has deemed an emergency scene safe (see "How to Maximize the Safety of an Emergency Scene"), he or she should identify and fix the most serious problems before moving on to the secondary survey.

Things You'll Need

• Rubber Or Latex Gloves

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Instructions

• 1

  Put on latex gloves to prevent infection or transmission of disease.

• 2

  Check airway, breathing and circulation. (See "How to Check Airway, Breathing and Circulation.")

• 3

  Begin rescue breathing if the injured person is not breathing, but has a pulse. (See "How to Perform Rescue Breathing.")

• 4

  Begin cardiopulmonary resuscitation if the injured person has no pulse. (See "How to Perform Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR).")

• 5

  Treat severe bleeding if the injured person is breathing and has a pulse. (See "How to Treat Severe Bleeding.")

• 6

  Immobilize the neck by holding the head firmly, with one hand on each side of the head, and allowing no motion.

• 7

  Release the head only after you have determined that there is no spinal injury. (See "How to Rule out a Spinal Cord Injury.")