New York State Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) Practice Exam

Upon finding three patients at a motor vehicle crash, what should you do?

1. Begin triage to determine injury severity

2. Call medical control for further direction

3. Immediately request additional resources

4. Request law enforcement for traffic control

The correct answer is: Immediately request additional resources

In the scenario of encountering three patients at a motor vehicle crash, the appropriate action involves assessing the situation and the needs of the patients while also considering the safety and urgency of the circumstances. Requesting additional resources is crucial because a motor vehicle crash can lead to varying levels of injury among patients, and having more personnel or medical assets increases the ability to provide adequate care efficiently. Emergency situations often require immediate and coordinated responses, particularly when multiple patients are involved and the potential for injuries or complications might escalate. By obtaining additional resources early in the response, you ensure that you have the necessary support for patient assessment, stabilization, treatment, and transportation. This is especially important when you don’t yet know the severity of each patient’s injuries; having extra help can expedite care and improve outcomes. While triaging patients is important, this can often be conducted simultaneously with the request for additional resources. Engaging medical control may also be useful, but in urgent scenarios, ensuring adequate manpower and equipment on-site is a priority. Thus, seeking further assistance allows you to enhance your response capabilities for the patients involved.