What is the first step for a physician at the scene of an incident?

The initial action a physician must take when arriving at the scene of an incident is to assess the patient's needs. This step is crucial because it allows the physician to determine the severity of injuries or medical conditions present, prioritize care, and make informed decisions regarding treatment and additional resources needed. Understanding the patient's condition sets the stage for effective intervention, whether it involves administering immediate care on-site, coordinating with first responders, or deciding on the necessity for transport to a hospital.

Requesting assistance from paramedics, while important, typically comes after a preliminary assessment during which the physician evaluates immediate patient needs. Similarly, requesting proper identification doesn’t directly impact patient care and should occur later in the sequence of events. Notifying the Base Hospital is also a critical step, but, like calling for paramedics, it is based on the assessment's findings and not the first action taken. Thus, assessing the patient's needs is the foundational action that drives further steps in the medical response process.