What does the acronym HABC stand for?

• A. Hemorrhage, Airway, Breathing, and Circulation
• B. Heartbeat, Airway, Blood, and Circulation
• C. Hemoglobin, Airway, Breathing, and Cardiac
• D. Hemorrhage, Axial, Breathing, and Circulation

Answer: (A)

This item tests your knowledge of a trauma care mnemonic and the order of priorities in the initial response. HABC stands for Hemorrhage, Airway, Breathing, Circulation. The idea is to act first on the most life-threatening issue—bleeding—because rapid blood loss can kill quickly. Once bleeding is controlled, secure the airway to keep passages open so air can reach the lungs. After that, assess and support breathing to ensure adequate oxygenation, and finally focus on circulation to maintain blood flow to organs.

The phrase aligns with common emergency training because the terms used are specific to life-threatening priorities in trauma care. The other options mix in terms like heartbeat, blood, hemoglobin, axial, or cardiac, which aren’t part of this mnemonic and don’t reflect the established order of actions in HABC.