What is the first concern when you are caring for a patient who has been in a vehicle collision?

The first concern when caring for a patient involved in a vehicle collision is your own safety. Ensuring your safety is paramount because it allows you to provide effective care without becoming another victim of the incident. If the scene is unsafe due to ongoing traffic, hazardous materials, or structural instability, attending to your own safety first is vital. This ensures that you can safely assist the patient and any other individuals at the scene without putting yourself at further risk.

While patient comfort, calling for additional help, and stabilizing the vehicle are all important aspects of patient care and the overall response to a vehicle collision, they come after ensuring that the environment is safe for you to operate. If you are not safe, you cannot perform any of these tasks effectively.