What should the initial radio transmission begin with?

• A. The patient’s name
• B. The date of birth
• C. Agency name and unit number
• D. The receiving facility’s name

Answer: (C)

The essential idea is to establish who is calling right away. When you start a radio transmission, you first identify the transmitting unit and agency so the person on the other end knows exactly who is speaking and where the call is coming from. This setup helps route the message correctly, ensures accountability, and prevents confusion on a busy channel.

Beginning with the agency name and unit number does exactly that. Patient identifiers like the patient’s name or date of birth are important, but they belong in the patient information that comes after establishing contact. They’re not needed—and can even risk privacy issues—before the caller is identified. The receiving facility’s name isn’t the starting point either; it’s the destination, which you confirm after you’ve introduced yourself and made initial contact.