New York State Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) Practice Exam

As the first-arriving senior EMT at an incident, what should you do after performing a scene size-up?

1. Establish command

2. Begin the triage process

3. Call for additional resources

4. Quickly identify the walking wounded

The correct answer is: Establish command

After performing a scene size-up, establishing command is a crucial step in managing an emergency incident effectively. As the first senior EMT on the scene, you're responsible for assessing the situation, ensuring safety, and coordinating the response. Establishing command helps streamline communication and decision-making, allowing for a more organized approach to patient care and resource management. This step sets the foundation for the incident action plan, outlining roles and responsibilities for other responders as they arrive. It creates a clear point of authority, which is essential for ensuring that all responders work effectively together, especially in incidents involving multiple patients or complex circumstances. While initiating triage, calling for additional resources, or identifying walking wounded are also important actions to take during a mass casualty incident, they come after establishing a clear command structure. By establishing command first, you ensure that all subsequent actions are organized and directed.