What is the first action you should take after ensuring scene safety in an emergency?

After ensuring scene safety in an emergency, the first action should be to check the responsiveness of the patient. This step is critical because it allows you to quickly determine the patient's condition and awareness. Awareness of the patient's responsiveness provides crucial information on whether they are conscious, able to communicate, or in need of immediate medical intervention.

Assessing responsiveness helps you to gauge the severity of the situation. If the patient is unresponsive, it indicates a potential life-threatening condition that may require immediate action, such as calling for medical backup or initiating CPR. Therefore, checking responsiveness serves as a foundational step that informs subsequent actions based on the patient's needs.

While the other actions, such as calling for medical backup or assessing vital signs, are important within the overall emergency response plan, they should follow the vital initial step of determining if the patient is responsive.