You and your partner respond to the scene of a 49-year-old male with acute abdominal pain. as you enter his residence, you find him lying on the floor in severe pain. he is conscious and alert. the patient appears to weigh in excess of 350 lb. your first action should be to:
a. request the fire department if one attempt to move him fails.
b. encourage the patient to walk himself to the awaiting ambulance.
c. request additional personnel before making any attempts to lift him.
d. assess him and then move him to the stretcher with a direct carry.