What is the first step in primary assessment?

The first step in primary assessment is obtaining permission. This is crucial because before providing any care, it's important to ensure that you have the patient's consent, especially if they are conscious and capable of understanding the situation. Gaining permission not only respects the autonomy of the patient but also helps establish a rapport, which can facilitate communication and cooperation during the assessment and subsequent treatment.

This step involves identifying yourself as a ski patroller and explaining your intentions clearly to the patient. If the individual is unconscious or unable to give consent due to their condition, implied consent can be assumed in emergency situations, allowing responders to act in the patient's best interest.

The other options, although important in the overall assessment process, come after securing permission. Evaluating vital signs, stabilizing the patient, and performing a secondary assessment all occur once consent has been established and the primary assessment begins. Each of these processes plays a role in providing effective care, but securing consent is foundational and sets the stage for the healthcare provider's ability to act.