⚠ DRAFT — awareness-level pre-training; supplements a state-approved EMT course
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K
Coach Katie
On every call, one question comes before all the medicine: is the scene safe? The best EMTs slow down for ten seconds, read the scene, and protect themselves first. You can't help anyone if you become the next patient.
The first rule
Scene safety comes first
Before you touch a patient, size up the scene. Your priority order is you and your crew first, then bystanders, then the patient. That order is not selfish — an injured rescuer just adds another patient and takes help away from the person who called.
If a scene is unsafe and you cannot make it safe, do not enter. Stage at a safe distance and call for the right resources — law enforcement, fire, or the power company. Make the scene safe first, then approach.
Protect yourself
Standard precautions & BSI
BSI (body substance isolation) means treating everyone's blood and body fluids as potentially infectious. Gloves go on for every patient contact — no exceptions. Add more protection as the situation calls for it.
🧤 Gloves
Always — on every patient, every time.
🥽 Eye protection
Splash risk: bleeding, airway, childbirth.
🥼 Gown
Heavy bleeding or large fluid exposure.
😷 Mask
Airborne or respiratory illness concerns.
The size-up
Five things to size up
A scene size-up is a quick, structured read of the whole scene before you commit to patient care.
🚨 Scene safety
Is it safe for you, your crew, bystanders?
🚗 MOI / NOI
Mechanism of injury or nature of illness.
👥 Number of patients
How many people need care?
📻 Additional resources
More units, ALS, fire, air medical?
👁️ General impression
Sick or not sick? Big picture, fast.
Resources are easier to cancel than to summon. If you might need more units, ALS, fire, or air medical, call early during size-up — you can always turn them around.
MOI vs NOI
Trauma or medical?
MOI — mechanism of injury is how someone got hurt: a fall, a crash, a gunshot. A significant MOI hints at how severe the trauma could be, even before you see the injuries.
NOI — nature of illness is why a medical patient called. You learn the NOI from the patient, family, or bystanders.
MOI (trauma)
Fall from a roof, high-speed crash, ejection, penetrating injury.
NOI (medical)
Chest pain, trouble breathing, "she just passed out," feeling weak.
Where this fits
Scope note
Scope: This is entry-level, awareness-level pre-training. An EMT always works under medical direction. A career partner — a fire/EMS agency or college — provides the state-approved course, skills labs, and field/clinical hours, and the NREMT exam seat. This module explores and pre-teaches the ideas; it does not certify you.
K
Coach Katie
Two real arrivals. Pick the choice that keeps you, your crew, and everyone else safe — and gets the right help moving.
K
Coach Katie
Five questions. 75% to pass, then make your pledge.
K
Coach Katie
Learning sticks when you commit to a next step. Pick at least two pledges you'll actually do.
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