During which step do clinicians prioritize threats that can lead to death?

The prioritization of threats that can lead to death occurs during the primary survey. This step is part of the initial assessment in critical care, where clinicians conduct a systematic evaluation to identify life-threatening conditions. During the primary survey, the clinician follows the ABCDE approach—Assessing Airway, Breathing, Circulation, Disability, and Exposure. Each component is crucial for detecting critical issues, such as airway obstruction, respiratory failure, or severe hemorrhage, which need immediate intervention to prevent death.

In the primary survey, the focus is on identifying and managing life-threatening problems before moving on to other aspects of care, such as establishing control of the situation, creating a treatment plan, or evaluating the response to treatment. These subsequent steps rely on the thorough assessment done during the primary survey to ensure that the urgent issues have been addressed appropriately. Hence, the correct identification and prioritization of threats during this stage are vital for improving patient outcomes in critical situations.