Who is responsible for infection control in EMS settings?

• A. To rely on hospital infection control guidelines only.
• B. To follow guidelines for infection control to protect themselves and patients.
• C. To ignore infection control guidelines to expedite transport.
• D. To only apply infection control after arrival at hospital.

Answer: (B)

In EMS, infection control is the responsibility of every responder to follow established guidelines to protect themselves and patients. This means you apply standard precautions from the moment you approach a call: wear the appropriate PPE (gloves, masks, eye protection, gowns as needed), perform hand hygiene, and use proper respiratory etiquette. It also includes safe handling and disinfection of equipment, proper disposal of contaminated materials, and staying up-to-date with vaccines and post-exposure procedures. Field-specific risks require applying these practices in the prehospital setting, not just waiting to follow hospital rules.

Relying only on hospital guidelines can miss the unique workflows and exposures you face in the field, and skipping precautions to speed transport increases risk to both crew and patient. Infection control should be continuous and integrated into every phase of patient care, from scene to transport to hospital handoff.