Quick dumb question about ABC's

[kgh31386, BSN, MSN, RN]

So we all know what ABC's are...but just wondering, in NCLEX world. If someone's leg is cut off and they are shooting blood across the room, do I wanna put on some Oxygen since it's a B, before I give blood or LR, fluids...since those are a C? Or would you do fluids first... even though its a C? I know I wanna pick the killer answer and give fluids first, plus it would fix the problem(kinda)....I was half asleep when that thought crossed my mind, so I might not be thinking too well right now..this whole question might not even be relevant, but worth asking I guess.

[CuriousMe]

So we all know what ABC's are...but just wondering, in NCLEX world. If someone's leg is cut off and they are shooting blood across the room, do I wanna put on some Oxygen since it's a B, before I give blood or LR, fluids...since those are a C? Or would you do fluids first... even though its a C? I know I wanna pick the killer answer and give fluids first, plus it would fix the problem(kinda)....I was half asleep when that thought crossed my mind, so I might not be thinking too well right now..this whole question might not even be relevant, but worth asking I guess.

I'm just a student, but my first question is....how is their breathing?

If they're breathing fine (I would include being tachypneic as a normal for that situation), then I would move on to C...and stop or slow the bleeding then look at hanging fluids.

[CT Pixie, BSN, RN]

So we all know what ABC's are...but just wondering, in NCLEX world. If someone's leg is cut off and they are shooting blood across the room, do I wanna put on some Oxygen since it's a B, before I give blood or LR, fluids...since those are a C? Or would you do fluids first... even though its a C? I know I wanna pick the killer answer and give fluids first, plus it would fix the problem(kinda)....I was half asleep when that thought crossed my mind, so I might not be thinking too well right now..this whole question might not even be relevant, but worth asking I guess.

If I had someone shooting blood across the room I'd be applying pressure and trying to control the bleeding in some fashion. Of course ABC;s come into play first but I'd be doing a quick assessment..if they are screaming, crying etc..I know their airway is open and they are breathing..you do this during an assessment so quickly you tend to forget that you checked the airway and breathing, then onto circulation

If your asking and only the following are the only options for answers:

oxygen

blood

fluids

I'd probably slap on an o2 mask first. one would have to think that loosing that much blood their o2 levels in the blood are dropping. Giving blood would replace the blood lost but it won't reoxygenate the blood and fluids will only increase volume, again not helping with the desat that is most likely happening.

In the NCLEX world when I took my LPN classes..it was always always always A, B, then C

[caliotter3]

I would probably go with the obvious of trying to control the bleeding first. The others won't make any difference if the person bleeds out before help arrives. Bleeding out does not take long.

[wannabHishands]

I would have to say, given only those options, you pick the one that makes sense, even if it's not A... fluids, or blood. If the heart runs dry, you die. Period. Sure, your blood will be better oxygenated, but you'll still be dead.

If you give fluids or blood, it WOULD be reoxygenated, as it would circulate through the lungs. If it isn't going through the lungs, or the pt isn't breathing, then airway/breathing IS the answer...BTW, I am pretty sure that scenario will never come up on NCLEX! :-)

[RevolutioN2013]

pre-nursing student here...I see references to ABC in posts on this board and I understand that A means airway, B means breathing, and C means circulation. What is the difference between airway and breathing? Does it mean clear the airway, or make sure it is clear first and then deal with the fact that the pt is not breathing? Like don't do the chest compressions for lack of breathing if the airway isn't clear? Also, a question specifically about this post...if someone was shooting blood from their femoral artery and also not breathing, wouldn't you HAVE to deal with the artery issue first?

[kgh31386, BSN, MSN, RN]

pre-nursing student here...I see references to ABC in posts on this board and I understand that A means airway, B means breathing, and C means circulation. What is the difference between airway and breathing? Does it mean clear the airway, or make sure it is clear first and then deal with the fact that the pt is not breathing? Like don't do the chest compressions for lack of breathing if the airway isn't clear? Also, a question specifically about this post...if someone was shooting blood from their femoral artery and also not breathing, wouldn't you HAVE to deal with the artery issue first?

wow thread from the dead. Yeah you would definitely have to fix the artery problem first. But a lot of times you won't see the answer you want in the list of answers. So they may be shooting blood from multiple places..but the only answer choices are, give oxygen, give fluids, or something random like make sure the airway is patent(actually questions usually make a lot more sense, but still sometimes it's not what you wanna see). With active bleeding, apply pressure first. Anyway with the ABC, you're right..A is making sure your airway is patent. Then address breathing difficulty. You can do compressions all you want, but if your airway isn't patent..does you no good. You might be circulating the blood, but you won't start breathing again since you have no airway.