When assessing a patient with a behavioral crisis, you should:

• A. Be direct and clearly state your intentions.
• B. Frisk the patient for the presence of weapons.
• C. Spend as little time with the patient as possible.
• D. Ask the police to handcuff the patient for safety.

Answer: (A)

Clear, direct communication about what you plan to do helps calm anxiety and reduce resistance during a behavioral crisis. When you approach, introduce yourself, state your role, and spell out your immediate plan in simple terms. For example: “My name is [name]. I’m here to help you stay safe. I need to check you briefly and understand what’s causing this so we can get you help.” By stating your intentions plainly, you set predictable expectations, minimize ambiguity, and invite cooperation, which makes it possible to perform a focused assessment without escalating the situation. It also shows you’re in control and respectful, not threatening.

Frisking for weapons is not a baseline step in a behavioral crisis and should only occur if there is a clear, imminent safety risk and protocols support it. Likewise, spending as little time as possible can jeopardize safety and misses important information. Relying on police handcuffs to manage the scene is not an EMS-friendly approach and can escalate fear; de-escalation and clear, honest communication are more effective for safety and patient care.