Primary Assessment (MARCH)

Use the MARCH Acronym to quickly find life threatening illness and/or injury.

MARCH

Mnemonic for the Primary (Life Threat) Assessment

M-Massive Hemorrhage: (Stop the Bleeding)

Blood Sweep, Direct pressure, Bandaging, Tourniquets, Wound packing, Hemostatic/ TXA

A-Airway Management: (Maintain the tunnel)

Positioning, FBAO, NPA/OPA, Suction, BIADS/Intubation, Surgical Cricothyrotomy.

R-Respirations: (O2 in and Co2 out, Seal the boxes)

Breathing Assessment, Assisted Ventilations, Rescue Breathing, Chest Seals

C-Circulation: (Fight the SHOCK)

CPR, AED, Shock, Epinephrine, Needle Decompression.

H-Hypothermia, Head ICP: (Cold and lack of movement is death)

Hypothermic impact on trauma, Hypoglycemia, Hypoxia, Hyperventilation, Head Elevation.