A 70-year-old woman presents to the emergency department with fever, hypotension (BP 84/50 mmHg), tachycardia and suspected pneumonia on chest X-ray. Lactate is 3.5 mmol/L. She lives 300 km from the nearest tertiary centre in rural Queensland. According to sepsis pathways for rural and remote facilities, what is the most important initial step after recognition of sepsis and establishing IV access?