DRSABC: The Primary Survey Every Australian Should Know

In an emergency, knowing what to do in the first few minutes can make a life-saving difference. That’s why DRSABC is taught across Australia as the foundation of first aid and emergency response. It provides a simple, structured way to assess a situation and take the right actions in the correct order, even under stress.

DRSABC forms the primary survey and is designed for everyone, not just paramedics or healthcare professionals. It’s used in workplaces, schools, first aid courses, sporting clubs, and community training programs to help people respond confidently to medical emergencies, accidents, and sudden collapses.

In this guide, we’ll explain what DRSABC means, break down each step with real-world examples, and show when and how to use it. Whether you’re completing a first aid course, supporting workplace safety, or simply want to be prepared, understanding DRSABC is an essential skill that every Australian should know.

Key Takeaways

• DRSABC is Australia’s standard primary survey used in first aid and emergency response.
  
• It provides a clear step-by-step process to assess danger, consciousness, breathing, and circulation.
  
• DRSABC is designed for anyone, including members of the public, not just trained clinicians.
  
• Following the sequence helps prevent missed steps and reduces panic during emergencies.
  
• Regular practice and simple reference tools can help reinforce correct actions when it matters most.
  

Summary Table: DRSABC at a Glance

What is DRSABC?

DRSABC is Australia’s standard primary survey used in first aid to assess and respond to a medical emergency in the correct order.
It stands for Danger, Response, Send for help, Airway, Breathing, and CPR, and is designed to help anyone take calm, effective action in the first critical moments of an emergency.

The purpose of DRSABC is to identify immediate life-threatening problems and address them one step at a time, before moving on to more detailed care. It is taught nationally in first aid and CPR courses and is widely used in workplaces, schools, sporting clubs, and community settings across Australia.

By following the DRSABC sequence, responders reduce the risk of missing vital steps, protect their own safety, and give the person the best possible chance of survival until professional help arrives.

Breaking Down Each Letter of DRSABC (With Examples)

Below is a clear, practical breakdown of each step in DRSABC, using everyday examples so it’s easy to understand and apply in real situations.

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D – Danger

Before helping anyone, check for danger to yourself, the injured person, and bystanders. You cannot help if you become injured as well.

Examples of danger include:

• traffic or moving vehicles
  
• electricity or live wires
  
• fire, smoke, or gas
  
• aggressive behaviour
  
• unstable structures or machinery
  

What to do:
 If the scene isn’t safe, don’t enter. Make it safe if you can or wait for emergency services.

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R – Response

Check whether the person is responsive.

How to check:

• speak loudly: “Can you hear me?”
  
• gently squeeze their shoulders
  
• ask simple questions
  

What it means:

• responsive: they move, speak, or open their eyes
  
• unresponsive: no response to voice or touch
  

An unresponsive person always requires urgent action.

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S – Send for Help

If the person is unresponsive, send for help immediately.

What to do:

• call 000 yourself, or
  
• ask someone nearby to call 000
  
• if available, ask someone to get an AED
  

Early activation of emergency services improves outcomes, even if you’re not yet sure what’s wrong.

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A – Airway

If the person is unresponsive, check and open the airway.

What to do:

• gently tilt the head back and lift the chin
  
• look for visible obstructions
  
• do not blindly sweep the mouth
  

This position helps keep the airway open so air can move in and out.

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B – Breathing

Check if the person is breathing normally.

How to check:

• look for chest movement
  
• listen for breathing sounds
  
• feel for breath on your cheek
   (do this for up to 10 seconds)
  

Important note:
Gasping or irregular breathing is not normal breathing and should be treated as not breathing.

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C – CPR

If the person is not breathing normally, start CPR immediately.

Key points:

• Follow instructions from the 000 operator
  
• Continue CPR until help arrives or an AED is available
  
• if trained, use the AED as soon as possible
  

CPR helps maintain blood flow to vital organs until professional help arrives.

When to Use DRSABC

DRSABC should be used any time you come across a person who may be seriously injured, suddenly unwell, or collapsed. It provides a clear starting point when you’re unsure what’s wrong and need to act quickly and safely.

Common situations where DRSABC applies include:

• someone collapsing at home, work, or in public
• workplace accidents or injuries
• sporting injuries
• road accidents, once the scene is safe
• people found unresponsive
• sudden medical emergencies such as suspected cardiac arrest

DRSABC is designed to be used before any detailed first aid or medical care. It helps you identify immediate life-threatening problems first, rather than focusing on minor injuries while missing something more serious.

Even if you’ve had first aid training before, returning to DRSABC as your starting point helps keep your response structured and calm under pressure.

DRSABC in First Aid Courses

DRSABC is taught across Australia because it gives everyday people a simple, reliable process to follow when someone is injured or suddenly becomes unwell. It forms the foundation of most training because it helps learners respond safely and confidently, even if they’ve never faced an emergency before.

You’ll commonly learn and practise DRSABC in:

• Workplace first aid training (to support WHS and emergency response plans)
• Schools and education settings (building confidence early and improving community safety)
• CPR courses (especially focused on response, breathing checks, and CPR steps)
• Community programs (such as local first aid courses and volunteer groups)

Even though the steps are simple, the real value comes from practising the sequence until it becomes automatic.

Why repetition builds confidence

In an emergency, people don’t usually “rise to the occasion” — they fall back on what they remember. Repeating DRSABC during training helps build a mental routine, so you’re less likely to freeze, panic, or skip a step when the pressure is high.

Why quick-reference tools help retention

A big reason people lose confidence is that they forget details between training sessions. Quick-reference tools (like wallet cards or simple posters) help keep the steps familiar over time and can act as a prompt if you ever need to respond in real life.

How to Practice DRSABC

You don’t need to be a paramedic to get good at DRSABC — you just need consistent, simple practice. The goal is to build a calm, automatic routine so you can take action quickly without overthinking.

Mental rehearsal

• Even reading through the steps regularly or visualising an emergency scenario can improve recall. A simple method is to ask yourself:
  “What would I do first?”
  Then run through the sequence in your head: Danger → Response → Send for help → Airway → Breathing → CPR

Practice during training

First aid courses are the best place to practise DRSABC because you can apply it in realistic scenarios with guidance. It also helps you learn:

• how to check breathing properly
• what “unresponsive” looks like
• when to call 000 and ask for an AED
• when to start CPR confidently

Using prompts like cards or posters

Having a physical prompt can make a big difference, especially for people who don’t practise first aid regularly. Tools like:

• wallet reference cards
• first aid posters
• workplace safety guides

help keep the steps top of mind and improve long-term retention.

Keeping it simple under stress

DRSABC works because it keeps the focus on what matters most. When someone is injured, don’t try to do everything at once. Just follow the steps in order, speak clearly, and act early — even small actions can have a major impact.

Explore More Clinical Reference Tools

For anyone wanting a reliable reminder of key emergency steps and structured responses, MyMedEquip offers a range of Clinical Reference Cards & Emergency Protocol Guides designed for real-world use. These resources help support memory, confidence, and consistency across training and real-life situations.

→ View the Clinical Reference Cards & Emergency Protocols Collection

Shop First Aid Training Materials

If you’re building confidence in first aid skills or supporting workplace training, having the right tools makes practice easier. MyMedEquip supplies practical training aids and first aid reference materials designed to support clear decision-making and quick recall when it matters.

• Reference cards
• Training aids
• Practical reminders

→ Shop First Aid Training Materials

Final Thoughts

DRSABC is one of the most valuable life skills an Australian can learn. It provides a clear structure for responding to emergencies, helping you act calmly, protect yourself, and support someone who may need urgent care.

The most important thing is not being perfect — it’s being willing to step in and follow the process. By practising DRSABC, reinforcing it through training, and using simple reference tools to keep it fresh in your mind, you can build real confidence and be better prepared to help when seconds matter.

FAQs Answered:

1. What does DRSABC stand for?

DRSABC stands for Danger, Response, Send for help, Airway, Breathing, and CPR. It’s the standard primary survey taught across Australia to help people respond safely and effectively in an emergency. The steps are designed to keep you safe first, then guide you through assessing a person and taking urgent action if they’re not breathing normally.

2. Is DRSABC still used in Australia?

Yes — DRSABC is still widely used in Australia and remains the core emergency response framework taught in CPR and first aid courses nationwide. It’s the foundation of the primary survey and is used because it provides a simple, reliable sequence that helps prevent missed steps during high-pressure situations.

3. Who should know DRSABC?

Every Australian should know DRSABC, because emergencies can happen anywhere — at home, at work, during sport, or out in public. It’s particularly important for:

• parents and carers
• teachers and school staff
• workplace first aid officers
• coaches and community leaders
• students and trainees completing first aid courses

It’s a skill designed for everyday people, not just medical professionals.

4. Is DRSABC different from first aid overseas?

The concept is similar, but the wording and order can vary by country. Many overseas first aid systems use frameworks like ABC, CAB, or slightly different acronyms. In Australia, DRSABC is the most commonly taught structure because it clearly starts with scene safety (Danger) and helps guide people through an emergency response in a way that’s easy to remember and apply.

5. Where can I learn DRSABC in Australia?

You can learn DRSABC through accredited first aid and CPR training providers across Australia. It’s taught in workplace courses, school programs, community training, and refresher CPR sessions. Regular practice through training is the best way to build confidence and ensure the steps stay familiar over time.

6. Where can I buy DRSABC reference cards in Australia?

You can buy DRSABC reference cards in Australia directly from MyMedEquip. These quick-reference cards are designed to help with fast recall of the primary survey steps, making them a practical training aid for first aid students, workplace responders, and anyone who wants a clear prompt available in an emergency.