Upon starting your shift, what is the first thing you should do?

The first thing you should do upon starting your shift is to check ambulance supplies. This is crucial because ensuring that all necessary equipment and supplies are available and in proper working condition directly affects your ability to provide safe and effective patient care. A well-stocked ambulance can significantly impact response time and the quality of care delivered during emergencies.

By checking the supplies, you can identify any items that may need replenishing or replacing, such as medications, bandages, or other essential equipment. It helps to prevent any delays during a call due to missing supplies, which could ultimately affect patient outcomes.

While other actions might be necessary during the shift, such as repairing broken equipment or decontaminating the ambulance, these tasks are typically secondary to confirming that the ambulance is adequately prepared for patient transport. Copying the previous crew checklist can be useful for continuity but is also secondary to ensuring immediate readiness for shifts.