To protect themselves during EMS operations, responders should primarily:

The primary focus during Emergency Medical Services (EMS) operations is to ensure responder safety while providing care. Wearing medical gloves before providing care is a vital step in protecting responders from potential exposure to infectious agents and bodily fluids. Medical gloves act as a barrier, preventing direct contact with blood, saliva, and other body fluids that may carry pathogens.

Utilizing gloves not only safeguards the responder but also helps to maintain hygienic conditions when interacting with patients. This practice is crucial in minimizing the risk of cross-contamination between different patients or between a patient and the responder.

In the context of the other choices, while washing hands and using splash-resistant eyewear are important hygiene and safety practices, they may not be as immediate or fundamental in protecting first responders during the initial point of contact with patients. Wearing respiratory protection is specifically important when blood is present, but the priority remains in ensuring the basic barrier protection that gloves provide as the first step of care.