Upon arriving at the scene of an incident investigation, what should be your first action?

In an incident investigation, sketching and mapping the scene is a crucial first step. By creating an accurate representation of the scene, you establish a visual reference that captures the layout, locations of key evidence, and potential hazards present at the time of the incident. This foundational work provides essential context for understanding the circumstances that led to the incident and aids in organizing further investigation activities.

Completing this initial step effectively can clarify the timeline of events when combined with witnesses' accounts and physical evidence. It ensures that when you move on to tasks such as interviewing witnesses or documenting injuries, you have a clear spatial understanding of the incident, which can greatly enhance the quality of information gathered and the analysis performed later. Therefore, starting with a sketch or map builds a solid base for the subsequent investigation actions.