What takes priority over evidence preservation during an incident?

Victim or patient care and extrication take priority over evidence preservation during an incident because the primary goal in any emergency situation is to ensure the safety and well-being of individuals involved. When an incident occurs, responders must first assess and attend to any victims requiring medical assistance. This is vital not only for the immediate health and safety of those injured but also to comply with legal and ethical obligations to provide care.

Prioritizing victim care means that removing individuals from danger and ensuring they receive the necessary medical treatment can sometimes necessitate altering the scene, which may impact the preservation of evidence. However, the urgency of saving lives and addressing health needs surpasses the need to maintain the scene intact for investigative purposes. After ensuring that individuals are safe and any critical medical interventions have been performed, then attention can shift towards restoring traffic flow and preserving evidence for an investigation, but always with the assurance that those who were injured are effectively cared for first.