What action should you take if a patient is responsive?

When a patient is responsive, obtaining consent before providing care is a critical step that aligns with ethical and legal standards in health care. This action ensures that you respect the patient's autonomy and right to make decisions about their own health care. It fosters a collaborative relationship and can also provide the patient with a sense of control during a potentially distressing situation.

In circumstances where the patient is alert and able to communicate, you can ask for explicit permission to assist them or provide treatment. This is particularly important because some patients may have specific wishes regarding their medical care or may refuse help for various reasons.

While calling for EMS may be necessary in some emergencies, doing so without patient consent when they are responsive may not be appropriate. Similarly, moving a patient or providing cooling measures might be beneficial in certain situations, but these actions typically require consent to ensure that they are in the patient's best interest and that the patient is comfortable with the interventions being performed.