Your first concern during any emergency is to protect yourself. By surveying the scene, you should be able to ensure your safety and the safety of other bystanders. You will be unable to provide help if you are the next victim. Hazards to look for include gasoline or diesel spills, downed power lines, traffic, weapons or vehicles in precarious positions. These hazards must be addressed and resolved prior to patient care.

Any emergency scene requires one person to take charge, manage scene

safety, manage scene safety, direct patient care and prevent further injury. During a crisis, most people want to help but need direction to do so. This is where you, the scene manager, come into play. Use bystanders to help by giving clear, concise directions and speak without yelling. "Move the crowd back", "Call 91 1 !", "Open the patient's airway" may be helpful directions to give. It is your job to maintain the care and safety of the patient, as well as the safety of bystanders.

Some people choose not to get involved and the most common reason for this is fear. They fear failure, the risk of being sued or are concerned with catching an infectious disease. Although these fears are real, they can be minimized with accurate information and good training.

After ensuring your own safety, you should attempt to gain access to the patient. If you cannot secure the scene or your own safety, you should not attempt to provide care. Once the scene is secure, always try the easiest method to get to the patient. For example, if the patient is in a car, try to open the car doors before breaking a window. Common sense often allows you access to the patient without any special tools or skills. If unable to gain access to the patient, you should at least communicate with them and reassure them help is on the way.

Before entering an emergency scene, always make sure you check for hazarda. You don't want to become part of the emergency!