In the handgun-in-residence scenario, which action is indicated to manage safety?

• A. Position yourself in between the patient and the gun and ask your partner to request law enforcement assistance.
• B. Direct your partner to move the gun to a safe area and then advise the patient that his weapon has been secured.
• C. Document the presence of the weapon, including its specific location, and continue your assessment of the patient.
• D. Immediately cease all patient care, carefully back out of the residence, and request law enforcement assistance.

Answer: (A)

Managing safety starts with scene safety in a potentially dangerous environment. When a firearm is present, the top priority is to prevent access to the weapon and get trained help to secure it. Positioning yourself between the patient and the gun creates a protective barrier, reducing the chance the patient could grab the weapon or that a sudden movement could lead to discharge. At the same time, asking your partner to request law enforcement brings in professionals who can safely secure the firearm, allowing you to continue patient assessment and care from a safe distance. Moving the gun yourself is risky because any attempt to handle or rehouse it could provoke a discharge; documenting the weapon and continuing care does not address the immediate safety risk; and ceasing care and backing away would abandon the patient to a dangerous situation. So the best approach is to establish a safety barrier and call for law enforcement to secure the weapon.