If a victim must be left behind during a rescue, what should be done first?

The first step when a victim must be left behind during a rescue is to activate the victim's pass, which would be their personal alert safety system (PASS) device, and roll them onto a guide rope. This choice emphasizes the importance of ensuring that the victim is equipped with a means of signaling their location and providing a way to guide rescuers back to them.

Activating the PASS device alerts other firefighters and emergency personnel to the victim's presence, which is essential in coordinating a search and rescue operation. Furthermore, rolling the victim onto a guide rope aids in navigating back to them efficiently and safely, minimizing the risk of further injury to the victim while ensuring rescuers are directed back through potentially hazardous conditions.

While it may be critical to consider keeping a team member with the victim, this approach is not always feasible due to the dynamics of the situation. Additionally, bringing the victim close to a window may not be practical in all scenarios, particularly if there’s no immediate means of evacuation. Leaving a victim behind should always be a last resort, but when it occurs, providing them with a means to be located quickly and assisting in their eventual rescue is paramount.