When a firefighter is trapped and cannot evacuate, what multi-step action is recommended to maximize chances of rescue?

• A. Break a window and escape through it
• B. Create or locate a safe area, signal for help, stay low to avoid heat, await rescue
• C. Call for help and immediately proceed to exit via any route
• D. Radio for backup and then self-evacuate

Answer: (B)

When a firefighter is trapped, the best approach focuses on preserving air, staying visible to rescuers, and minimizing exposure to heat and smoke. The recommended multi-step action is to create or locate a safe area, signal for help, stay low to avoid heat, and await rescue. A safe area gives you a defensible space and a known location that rescuers can reach even in low visibility. Signaling for help—using a radio, flashlight, whistle, or loud call—lets teams pinpoint where you are so they can plan their approach. Staying low keeps you in the cooler, less toxic layer of air near the floor, where heat and smoke are less intense. Awaiting rescue helps conserve your air supply and avoids worsening conditions by moving into unknown hazards. Breaking a window or attempting a random exit can feed the fire and expose you to greater danger, and moving to an exit route without a confirmed safe path often leads to entrapment.