During a primary assessment, what is the first step EMS providers should take?

In a primary assessment, the first step EMS providers should take is to assess responsiveness and airway. This is crucial because determining whether a patient is conscious and able to maintain their airway is essential for ensuring their safety and prioritizing life-threatening conditions before moving on to other evaluations.

This initial check allows EMS providers to quickly identify if there are any immediate threats to the patient's airway, such as obstruction, which could lead to respiratory failure or cardiac arrest if not addressed promptly. Moreover, assessing responsiveness helps in evaluating the patient's overall neurological status, guiding further treatment decisions and interventions needed on site.

Other steps, while important, are secondary in nature. Checking medical history or determining the mechanism of injury can provide valuable context and insights into the case but do not take precedence over confirming the patient's responsiveness and securing their airway. Similarly, administering medications is a subsequent action that may occur once the primary assessment and any required life-saving interventions have been adequately managed.