DRSABCD is a first aid memory aid for the early steps in an emergency. It gives you a practical order to follow when someone has collapsed, is seriously unwell, or may not be breathing normally.
What does DRSABCD stand for?
Dfor DangerRfor ResponseSfor Send for helpAfor AirwayBfor BreathingCfor CPRDfor Defibrillation
It is one of the clearest step-by-step pages on this site for the first actions in a serious emergency.
How does DRSABCD fit with other first aid pages?
On this site:
- Primary Survey is the broader rapid first check for life-threatening problems
- Basic Life Support is the broader emergency-care approach
- DRSABCD is the practical memory aid many Australian first aiders use to remember the order
How do you use DRSABCD?
Danger
Check that the scene is safe for you, the casualty, and other people nearby.
Response
Check whether the person responds when you speak loudly or gently try to rouse them.
Send for help
Call 000 or have someone else call.
Airway
Make sure the airway is open and clear. The broader overview page is Airway Management.
Breathing
Check whether the person is breathing normally. Slow gasping or Agonal Breathing does not count as normal breathing.
CPR
If the person is Unresponsive and not breathing normally, start CPR.
Defibrillation
Use an Automated External Defibrillator if one is available and follow the prompts.
What if the person is breathing normally?
If the person is unresponsive but breathing normally, the next practical page is usually Recovery Position.
That is an important part of making the cluster clearer:
not breathing normallyleads toward CPRbreathing normally but unresponsiveleads toward Recovery Position
Quick answer
DRSABCD is a first aid memory aid for the early emergency steps: danger, response, send for help, airway, breathing, CPR, and defibrillation. On this site it sits between the broader Primary Survey idea and the broader Basic Life Support emergency-care approach.
How this page is checked
Publisher: First Aid Glossary Editorial Team
Last reviewed: 28 April 2026
Reviewed against: ANZCOR Guideline 8 – Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR), ANZCOR Guideline 3 – Recognition and First Aid Management of the Unconscious Person, Healthdirect Australia CPR information, and Triple Zero emergency-call guidance.
This page is educational and explains first aid language in plain English. It is not personal medical advice, diagnosis, or a replacement for accredited first aid training. In an emergency in Australia, call Triple Zero (000).
