In the trauma primary survey, what does 'B' address?

• A. airway management and cervical spine protection
• B. breathing and ventilation
• C. circulation and hemorrhage control
• D. disability

Answer: (C)

Breathing and ventilation. In the trauma primary survey, the step labeled for B is about ensuring the patient is ventilating adequately and oxygen is being delivered to the tissues. This means quickly assessing how well the patient is breathing: rate, effort, symmetry of chest rise, use of accessory muscles, breath sounds, and oxygen saturation. If ventilation is insufficient or hypoxia is suspected, you intervene immediately—provide supplemental oxygen, clear secretions or obstructions, assist with bag-valve-mask ventilation, and prepare for advanced airway management if needed. Recognize injuries that impair breathing, such as tension pneumothorax or flail chest, and treat them promptly. This focus on breathing sits between securing the airway and addressing circulation, forming a fast sequence to prevent hypoxia while continuing the rest of the survey.