What is the first step in responding to an exposure incident?

Stopping the service is the most crucial first step in responding to an exposure incident. This action ensures the immediate safety of both the client and the practitioner. By halting any procedures, you can assess the situation calmly and effectively, reducing the risk of further injury or contamination. It allows you to focus on addressing the exposure incident without distractions and ensures that proper protocols are followed to protect everyone involved.

Once the service is stopped, the subsequent steps, like putting on gloves, cleaning the injured area, and bandaging the cut, can be executed in the correct order, ensuring that safety measures are fully adhered to without further complicating the scenario. Prioritizing the cessation of services allows for a clear-headed response to the incident at hand.