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DRSABCD: what to do when someone is unresponsive

Seven letters, one order. Watch the scene, read the steps, then test yourself. This is for general awareness. In a course you practise it with your hands until it feels natural.

Check for dangerTrafficPower leadFireLook left and rightOnly approach when it is safe
Talk and touchCan you hear me?Open your eyes.Both hands on the shoulders. Squeeze firmly.
Call Triple Zero (000)000Speaker on.You, get the AED!AEDStay with the person. Hands free on speaker.
Open the airway1. Look in the mouth.2. Head tilt, chin lift.Open the mouth and look insideHand on the forehead, two fingers under the chin, tilt back
Look, listen, feelLook along the chestEar and cheek near the mouth10987654321seconds, no moreChest not moving. Gasping is not normal breathing.
30 compressions, 2 breathsCompressions30100 to 120 a minuteShoulders above the chest, arms straight, heel of the hand on the centre of the chest
Attach the AEDAEDAnalysing.Stand clear.Pads: upper right chest, and lower left side under the armNobody touches the person while it analysesThen keep doing CPR until help arrives
Each step plays through once, then moves on. Use the letters to jump to a step.

The steps in words

  1. Danger. Stop and look. Is there anything that could hurt you, other people, or the person on the ground? Traffic, electricity, water, fire, fumes, an aggressive person. Only go in when it is safe.
  2. Response. Talk and touch. Squeeze their shoulders and speak loudly: Can you hear me? Open your eyes. What is your name? Squeeze my hand. If they respond, keep them comfortable, check for injuries and keep watching them. If there is no response, keep going.
  3. Send for help. Call 000 and ask for an ambulance. Put the phone on speaker so your hands are free. If anyone else is there, send them to find an AED (defibrillator).
  4. Airway. Open the mouth and check for anything blocking the airway. If you see fluid or food, roll them into the recovery position to clear it. Then open the airway: one hand on the forehead, two fingers under the bony part of the chin, tilt the head back gently.
  5. Breathing. Keep the head tilted. Look for chest movement, listen and feel for breath for up to 10 seconds. Breathing normally: recovery position and keep checking. Not breathing normally, or only gasping: start CPR now.
  6. CPR. Kneel beside the chest with your shoulders directly above it. Heel of one hand on the centre of the chest, on the lower half of the breastbone, other hand on top, fingers lifted, arms straight. Push down about one third of the chest depth, 30 times, at 100 to 120 pushes a minute. Then give 2 breaths. Keep going at 30 to 2. If you cannot or do not want to give breaths, keep pushing on the chest without stopping. Stop only when they recover, help takes over, or you cannot physically continue.
  7. Defibrillation. Turn the AED on as soon as it arrives and follow the voice prompts. Pads go on the bare chest: one on the upper right chest below the collarbone, one on the lower left side under the armpit. Do not touch the person when it says stand clear. Keep doing CPR until help arrives or the person starts breathing normally.

This is general awareness, not a replacement for training. In a course you practise these steps hands on until they feel natural.

Flow chart: someone has collapsed

Check for DANGER. Safe? Go in.Check for RESPONSE: talk and touchResponds?YesMake comfortable.Check injuries.Keep watching.NoSEND for help. Call 000. Get an AED.Open AIRWAY. Check BREATHING.Breathingnormally?YesRecovery position.Keep checkingbreathing.NoStart CPR: 30 pushes, 2 breaths.Attach the AED as soon as it arrives.

Text version. Check for danger. If it is safe, check for a response by talking and touching. If they respond, make them comfortable, check for injuries and keep watching them. If they do not respond, send for help: call 000 and get an AED. Open the airway and check for breathing. If they are breathing normally, put them in the recovery position and keep checking their breathing. If they are not breathing normally, start CPR at 30 pushes to 2 breaths and attach the AED as soon as it arrives.

Test yourself

Seven quick questions on DRSABCD. Each answer explains why the action matters.

Ready to practise it for real?

Reading it is a start. In a course you do it with your hands on a manikin until you are confident. Every REACHAU course covers DRSABCD and CPR.

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Training and Assessment is delivered by Britt at Regional Education and Career Help Australia on behalf of ABC First Aid RTO 3399.

First Aid Courses is operated by REACHAU (Regional Education and Career Help Australia), Western Australia. Phone 0481 123 204.

Training and Assessment is delivered by Britt at Regional Education and Career Help Australia on behalf of ABC First Aid RTO 3399. ABC First Aid | Student handbook

This page follows the Australian Resuscitation Council (ANZCOR) Basic Life Support guidelines. It is for general awareness only and is not a substitute for training. In an emergency, call 000.

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