Final answer:
The first prep towel is carefully placed around the surgical area to establish a sterile field around the incision site. It helps isolate the area and prevent contamination during surgery.
Step-by-step explanation:
The placement of the first prep towel on a patient who is about to undergo surgery is a critical step in maintaining sterility in the surgical environment. The correct procedure typically involves placing the towel around the surgical area. This is essential to establish a sterile field and to isolate the incision site from possible contaminants. The first towel is generally not placed directly over the incision site, as sterile surgical drapes will be placed there later. Instead, it is carefully draped around the edges of the area that has been prepped, which may include tucking under the patient to secure the towel in place and prevent shifting during the procedure. During an operation, maintaining a sterile field is paramount to preventing infection, and proper draping is one of the fundamental techniques to achieve this.