During an EMS call, you should take standard precautions:

During an EMS call, you should take standard precautions:

• A. During patient transport only
• B. Upon exiting the ambulance, but before actual patient contact
• C. After approaching the patient
• D. Only if there is heavy bleeding

Answer: (B)

Standard precautions mean treating every patient as potentially infectious and using PPE to prevent exposure to blood and body fluids. On an EMS call, you should don your protective gear before you approach or touch the patient, ideally as you exit the ambulance. This puts you in protection from the moment you begin the assessment, not after you get close or only in obvious bleeding. The other options miss the timing or the scope of risk: precautions aren’t limited to transport, they shouldn’t wait until you’re already at the patient, and they’re not based on whether there’s heavy bleeding. After the call, remove PPE properly and wash or sanitize your hands.

Standard precautions mean treating every patient as potentially infectious and using PPE to prevent exposure to blood and body fluids. On an EMS call, you should don your protective gear before you approach or touch the patient, ideally as you exit the ambulance. This puts you in protection from the moment you begin the assessment, not after you get close or only in obvious bleeding. The other options miss the timing or the scope of risk: precautions aren’t limited to transport, they shouldn’t wait until you’re already at the patient, and they’re not based on whether there’s heavy bleeding. After the call, remove PPE properly and wash or sanitize your hands.