What should a first responder prioritize when arriving at an emergency scene?

When a first responder arrives at an emergency scene, the utmost priority must be personal safety and scene safety. This is essential because if the responder fails to ensure their own safety and that of the scene, they cannot effectively assist others. Hazards such as traffic, fire, hazardous materials, or unstable structures pose significant risks that could lead to further injuries or complications.

Prioritizing safety allows the responder to evaluate the situation without becoming part of the problem. Once safety is established, then they can move on to assessing the number of injured individuals and providing care, but those actions can only safely occur after ensuring the surroundings are secure.

The other options, while important in their own right, become secondary to personal and scene safety. Determining the cause of the emergency or documenting the incident are also crucial, but these actions cannot be undertaken effectively if the first responder is compromised in any way. Therefore, establishing safety is the foundational step in any emergency response.