You are looking at this purely as a technician and not as a professional which involves the ability to communicate and that includes listening. This goes way beyond just the "technical skills" of assessment. Even before you get to the scene you must start listening for the correct information to get you to the correct address and to recognize clues that might make your arrival unsafe. You must communicate with bystanders, family and other loved ones. If you already have an attitude about a call or the neighborhood, others may read you like a large print book. Communication (with listening) is not just about words but body language also. Some "loudly" communicate with their body that they don't care about a thing anyone, including family, witnesses, other EMS personnel or healthcare professionals, has to say at a scene. Your communication skills or lack of can make a scene go very bad very quickly or very well if you are an effective communicator.
You may have to gain information about an unconscious patient to determine the whys and hows. The initial assessment will consist of the ABCs but if you want to do good patient care, you may have to verbally ask other for clues and listen to their replies without prejudice or stand in judgment. That means communicating with all who might know something in a professional manner that doesn't intimidate or excite.
Then, you may need to communicate with med control to relay information clearly and again, you may have to listen to the information to ensure accuracy. Communication with the receiving hospital and the ED staff is often where some really display their lack of communication skills for both verbal and listening. Any comments made by the ED staff will "sound" offensive to some "EMT(P)s" and they stop listening to what could be useful information.
