Before starting CPR, which method is used to determine responsiveness?

Before starting CPR, which method is used to determine responsiveness?

• A. Gently shake and shout
• B. Check carotid!
• C. AVPU
• D. If pulse present, check breathing

Answer: (C)

Assessing responsiveness quickly uses the AVPU scale, a fast way to judge a person’s level of consciousness. AVPU stands for Alert, responds to Voice, responds to Pain, and Unresponsive. This scale gives you a simple, reliable way to classify how the person is responding to stimuli in seconds, which guides your next steps. In practice, you start by gently shaking the person and shouting to elicit a response. If they respond, you’re likely dealing with someone who is Alert or who responds to Voice, and you continue with the appropriate assessment of breathing and circulation rather than jumping straight to CPR. If there is no response to any stimuli, you categorize them as Unresponsive and immediately call for help and begin CPR per protocol. The other listed actions aren’t about classifying responsiveness themselves: gently shaking and shouting is the arousal attempt, checking the carotid pulse is a circulation check, and checking breathing after a pulse is part of the breathing/pulse assessment, not the responsiveness classification.

Assessing responsiveness quickly uses the AVPU scale, a fast way to judge a person’s level of consciousness. AVPU stands for Alert, responds to Voice, responds to Pain, and Unresponsive. This scale gives you a simple, reliable way to classify how the person is responding to stimuli in seconds, which guides your next steps.

In practice, you start by gently shaking the person and shouting to elicit a response. If they respond, you’re likely dealing with someone who is Alert or who responds to Voice, and you continue with the appropriate assessment of breathing and circulation rather than jumping straight to CPR. If there is no response to any stimuli, you categorize them as Unresponsive and immediately call for help and begin CPR per protocol. The other listed actions aren’t about classifying responsiveness themselves: gently shaking and shouting is the arousal attempt, checking the carotid pulse is a circulation check, and checking breathing after a pulse is part of the breathing/pulse assessment, not the responsiveness classification.