What does the E in ABCDE involve?

• A. Undress Patient and Examine Entire Body
• B. Evaluate Only the Injury Site
• C. Check for Infection Risk
• D. Document Clothing Size

Answer: (A)

Exposure means fully revealing the patient so you can inspect for injuries that aren’t obvious beneath clothing. In the ABCDE sequence, after you’ve checked airway, breathing, circulation, and neurological status, you undress the patient as needed to examine the entire body from head to toe and back, looking for hidden bleeding, burns, fractures, or deformities. This broad assessment helps ensure you don’t miss injuries that aren’t visible at first glance. While doing this, keep the patient warm and covered when possible to prevent hypothermia and preserve privacy. Things like checking infection risk or documenting clothing size aren’t part of this rapid exposure step.