Acute-care clinicians are well aware of the alphabetical “ABC” (airway, breathing, circulation) directive of resuscitation. This term has been widely disseminated through programs such as Advanced Trauma Life Support (ATLS) and Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS). In fact, both courses have contributed significantly to improving awareness of resuscitation priorities required in managing patients rendered critically ill from trauma or cardiac events. Indeed, many hospital administrators require active certification in these programs (and others) for clinicians working in environments such as the emergency department (ED). However, from a real-world perspective, it is the “A” of the ABCs that often poses the greatest challenge, or produces significant anxiety in the clinician
