You should begin protecting yourself

You should begin protecting yourself

• A. as soon as you are dispatched
• B. before you arrive on scene
• C. after you assess risk
• D. after you complete patient care

Answer: (A)

Protecting yourself starts as soon as you’re alerted to a call. When you’re dispatched, you know you’re about to enter a potentially hazardous environment, so you should begin protective measures right away—donning the proper PPE, checking your equipment, and reviewing scene safety. Taking these steps early reduces the chance of exposure, minimizes delays once you arrive, and keeps you in a position to provide care without being sidelined by injuries or exposure. Waiting to don protection until you actually get to the scene or until after you’ve assessed risk means unnecessary risk and potential delays. Completing patient care is obviously too late for your own safety. The idea is to be prepared and protected from the moment the call is dispatched, so you can approach safely and effectively.

Protecting yourself starts as soon as you’re alerted to a call. When you’re dispatched, you know you’re about to enter a potentially hazardous environment, so you should begin protective measures right away—donning the proper PPE, checking your equipment, and reviewing scene safety. Taking these steps early reduces the chance of exposure, minimizes delays once you arrive, and keeps you in a position to provide care without being sidelined by injuries or exposure.

Waiting to don protection until you actually get to the scene or until after you’ve assessed risk means unnecessary risk and potential delays. Completing patient care is obviously too late for your own safety. The idea is to be prepared and protected from the moment the call is dispatched, so you can approach safely and effectively.