What should you do to ensure safety before approaching a patient?

Ensuring safety before approaching a patient is a crucial step for an Emergency Medical Responder to prevent personal injury and ensure effective care. The correct approach involves looking for hazards and assessing environmental conditions.

By actively evaluating the scene, you identify potential dangers that could affect both your safety and the patient's well-being. This includes checking for traffic, unstable structures, chemicals, or any threats that may be present. Assessing these environmental factors allows you to create a safe approach plan, which is essential for effective patient management.

This proactive assessment not only protects you but also helps prevent further harm to the patient or bystanders. Understanding the environment helps emergency responders act conservatively and make informed decisions on how to proceed safely, ensuring that help can be rendered without additional risk.