In a two-person submerged victim rescue, how should duties be divided?

In a two-person submerged victim rescue, how should duties be divided?

• A. One rescuer handles the rescue and one performs patient care, including CPR, on shore when safe
• B. Both rescuers stay in water and share CPR
• C. One rescuer leaves to call EMS
• D. Neither; wait for supervisor

Answer: (A)

In a two-person submerged victim rescue, the aim is to get the victim to safety quickly and start life‑saving care as soon as possible. The best approach is to split duties: one rescuer stays in the water to perform the rescue—enter if needed, secure the victim, and bring them to the surface and to shore. The other rescuer remains on shore to provide patient care, including CPR, as soon as the victim is on land and it’s safe to do so. This division allows the rescue to be completed efficiently while high-quality CPR can begin promptly on a stable surface, with EMS activation and AED use managed by the on‑shore rescuer. Trying to share CPR in the water would degrade the quality of compressions and impede the rescue; sending someone to call EMS without securing the victim risks delays, and waiting for a supervisor would waste critical time.

In a two-person submerged victim rescue, the aim is to get the victim to safety quickly and start life‑saving care as soon as possible. The best approach is to split duties: one rescuer stays in the water to perform the rescue—enter if needed, secure the victim, and bring them to the surface and to shore. The other rescuer remains on shore to provide patient care, including CPR, as soon as the victim is on land and it’s safe to do so. This division allows the rescue to be completed efficiently while high-quality CPR can begin promptly on a stable surface, with EMS activation and AED use managed by the on‑shore rescuer. Trying to share CPR in the water would degrade the quality of compressions and impede the rescue; sending someone to call EMS without securing the victim risks delays, and waiting for a supervisor would waste critical time.