Michigan Cannabis Risk And Financial Association (MCRFA) Practice Test

In the Initial Patient Assessment, the order emphasizes life-supporting functions: airway first, then breathing, then circulation. Securing the airway is the priority because if the airway is blocked or obstructed, air cannot reach the lungs regardless of breathing effort or blood flow. Once the airway is open, you assess breathing to ensure the patient is ventilating adequately; if not, you provide support such as rescue breaths or assisted ventilation. Finally, you evaluate circulation to confirm that blood—and thus oxygen and nutrients—are reaching vital organs; this includes checking for a pulse, observing skin signs, controlling major bleeding, or starting CPR if there is no pulse. This sequence focuses on addressing the most immediately life-threatening issues in a rapid, systematic way. Other sequences that swap steps or use terms like cardiac output instead of circulation don’t align with the standard approach for initial assessment.