New York State Basic Emergency Medical Technician (EMT-B) Practice Exam

After ensuring the scene is safe, what is the first step in caring for a patient?

1. Check for a carotid pulse

2. Open the airway

3. Determine unresponsiveness

4. Check for breathing

The correct answer is: Determine unresponsiveness

The first step in caring for a patient, after ensuring the scene is safe, is to determine unresponsiveness. This step is crucial because it helps the responder quickly assess the patient's condition and decide the appropriate course of action. By checking if the patient is responsive, you can gauge the severity of the situation. If the patient is unresponsive, immediate steps need to be taken to open the airway and assess breathing, as the patient may require urgent interventions like CPR or advanced airway management. In emergency care, prioritizing the patient's responsiveness is key since it sets the stage for further assessment and treatment. Assessing responsiveness can be done through simple verbal or physical stimuli to see if the patient reacts. This information guides the emergency responder in deciding whether the situation is critical and how to proceed efficiently.