Should you add non-essential information to record books that aren't required by law?

• A. Yes, good record keeping is essential for the EMS and helpful for testing and additions to equipment
• B. No, only legally required entries should be recorded
• C. Yes, but only if approved by the captain
• D. No, recording non-mandatory information is prohibited

Answer: (A)

Thorough record-keeping matters because it creates a complete, useful history of operations, equipment, and decisions. Adding non-essential information to records isn’t wasteful—it provides context that helps with testing, maintenance planning, and future equipment additions. When you log not just what is legally required but also relevant notes about test results, calibration dates, equipment condition, and the reasoning behind actions, you enable better decision-making, easier audits, and smoother training and handovers. This kind of detailed documentation supports accountability, safety, and continuous improvement.

Restricting records to only legally required entries narrows the picture and can leave important context out. Relying on captain approval for non-mandatory notes slows documentation and isn’t how consistent record-keeping is typically approached. And saying recording non-mandatory information is prohibited is inaccurate in most environments; responsible, relevant extra notes are generally allowed and encouraged to improve reliability and future planning.