What is the goal of the primary assessment?

• A. Document non-urgent injuries only.
• B. Identify and rapidly treat all life-threatening conditions.
• C. Transport the patient immediately.
• D. Determine patient satisfaction.

Answer: (B)

The primary assessment is all about quickly finding anything that could threaten the patient’s life and starting treatment right away. Its goal is to identify and rapidly treat all life-threatening conditions so you stabilize the patient’s airway, breathing, and circulation while you prepare for definitive care. In practice, you run a rapid, scene-wide check using the airway–breathing–circulation sequence (and include mental status and disability) to catch issues like blocked airways, failing breathing, severe bleeding, shock, or other threats to life, and you begin the necessary interventions immediately. This focus on immediate threats is what makes it distinct from the secondary assessment, which is a more thorough head-to-toe check after life threats have been addressed. It’s not about documenting non-urgent injuries, nor about transporting without addressing life threats, nor about patient satisfaction.