On arrival, what actions should units take regarding communication and coordination?

• A. Establish radio contact, assign roles, set up traffic control, and maintain clear, concise communication.
• B. Ignore radio contact and assign roles informally.
• C. Delay setting up traffic control until after arrival at the hospital.
• D. Let one person handle all communications.

Answer: (A)

On arrival, the priority is to establish a clear, coordinated approach from the start. Set up radio contact with dispatch and other responding units to confirm scene safety, resources, and patient needs. Assign specific roles to team members so everyone knows who handles safety, who provides patient care, who communicates with hospitals and command, and who manages traffic control. Set up traffic control promptly to create a safe working area, protect patients and responders, and keep access routes clear for ambulances. Throughout, keep communications clear and concise—use standard unit identifiers, state location and actions, and provide timely updates to avoid confusion.

Choosing not to establish radio contact or to assign roles informally can lead to miscommunication and duplicated or missed tasks. Delaying traffic control heightens risk to responders and patients, and letting one person handle all communications creates bottlenecks and a single point of failure.