In emergency triage using the ABC approach, which patient should be seen first?

• A. The patient with fever and sore throat.
• B. The patient with airway compromise or no effective breathing.
• C. The patient requiring routine vitals.
• D. The patient with a minor laceration.

Answer: (B)

In emergency triage, the immediate priority is to secure an airway and ensure effective breathing. If someone has airway compromise or is not breathing well, brain and organ tissues begin to suffer within minutes, so this situation is addressed first. The patient with airway problems or no effective breathing is therefore the highest priority.

The other scenarios are not as urgent: fever with sore throat often indicates infection but isn’t an immediate threat to life; needing routine vital signs is a non-urgent task; and a minor laceration, while requiring attention, is typically non-life-threatening compared with a compromised airway or poor ventilation.