DRS ABCD (Danger, Response, Send For Help, Airway, Breathing, Circulation, Defibrillation) is an action guide used by schools, universities, surf life saving clubs, paramedics, and on-site workplaces across Australia to address life-threatening situations – particularly sudden cardiac arrest.
If someone around you falls unconscious or begins suffering severe chest pains, follow the DRS ABCD action plan
- Observe the surroundings for any danger.
- Search for a response, before attending to any injuries. See if the person is alert or verbally active.
- Send for help by shouting for assistance and asking someone to call 000 (Triple Zero).
- Check the patient’s airways for anything that might be stopping oxygen from getting to the lungs.
- If nothing appears to be blocking the airways, check to see if the patient is breathing.
- If the patient is not breathing, start CPR. Chest compressions and mouth-to-mouth breathing save lives, because they allow for the circulation of blood and oxygen around the body.
- For an unconscious patient who is not breathing, seek out a defibrillator device in your immediate environment.