Background There are no formal criteria of what constitutes 'critically ill'. Broadly speaking, it implies acute organ failure which is potentially life-threatening. Manage patients using the ABCDE approach, outlined below. Address each area before moving on to the next. Get help if repeated fluid boluses are needed, the patient remains unstable despite treatment, or the underlying diagnosis is unclear. Options include seniors, critical care outreach, or the crash team. Airway in the critically ill patient Assessement Is the airway patent and protected? If the patient is talking, assume the airway is patent. Swallowed tongue is the commonest cause of airway obstruction. Therefore an airway is not protected if the level of consciousness is reduced, especially GCS ≤8, where airway reflexes are reduced. This also carries a risk of aspirating vomit. In trauma, this is also when you would secure the C-spine: initially manually then with a collar and blocks. Abno...