During a disaster, what is your first priority?

Your first priority during a disaster is ensuring the safety of your patients. As a certified nursing assistant (CNA), your primary role is to provide care and support to those under your supervision. In emergencies, the vulnerable population you assist may be at greater risk, and your immediate actions can significantly impact their well-being.

Ensuring the safety of patients means assessing their needs, stabilizing their conditions, and taking appropriate actions to protect them from harm. This could involve moving them to a safer location, attending to medical needs, or keeping them calm during the situation. Your training emphasizes the importance of patient-centered care, which necessitates prioritizing their safety first and foremost.

Once patients' safety is secured, you can then turn your attention to helping co-workers, calling for outside assistance, or taking care of yourself, but these actions should follow your initial focus on protecting and caring for the patients. In a disaster scenario, the welfare of those you serve takes precedence, underscoring the ethical commitment caregivers make to prioritize patient health and safety.