Which action is part of the CARE step in suicide prevention?

• A. Shout instructions
• B. Politely wait
• C. Remove any means that could be used for self-injury
• D. Document the incident

Answer: (C)

Immediate safety is the focus here. The CARE approach emphasizes taking concrete steps to reduce the risk of self-harm right away, and removing any means that could be used for self-injury does exactly that. By taking away tools, weapons, medications, or anything that a person could use to hurt themselves, you create a pause that lowers the likelihood of an impulsive act and buys time to connect with them and arrange professional help. This action directly addresses the dangerous access in the moment, while you continue to communicate support and seek appropriate resources. Shouting instructions or waiting passively doesn’t reduce the risk, and documenting the incident, while important later, doesn’t mitigate the immediate danger. The essential step is to remove means to safeguard the person now.