Once entrance and access to the patient have been provided, you should:

• A. Perform a secondary assessment
• B. Perform a primary assessment
• C. Administer oxygen
• D. Call for a higher-level unit

Answer: (B)

The key step is the primary assessment. After you’ve gained access to the patient, you perform a rapid primary survey to identify and address life-threatening conditions right away. This quick evaluation focuses on airway, breathing, and circulation, then adds disability (level of consciousness) and exposure to check for other immediate threats. You determine if the airway is open, if the patient is breathing adequately, and whether there’s any major bleeding or shock. If you find problems, you intervene immediately—clear or open the airway, provide ventilation, control bleeding, and support circulation, including giving oxygen if needed. This swift, life-safety check sets the stage for any further care and informs whether you need to call for higher-level help later. A secondary assessment (a more detailed head-to-toe check and history) comes after the primary survey and stabilization. Oxygen is important, but it’s part of managing breathing during the primary assessment and doesn’t replace the need to quickly identify and treat life threats first.