At a water and ice rescue, the first task during size-up is to determine whether an incident is a rescue or a recovery.

• A. Determine whether it is rescue or recovery
• B. Check weather conditions
• C. Establish communications
• D. Assess water depth

Answer: (A)

The key idea is that size-up first defines the mission. In a water or ice rescue, the initial determination of whether you’re dealing with a rescue or a recovery sets the whole approach: the objectives, the allowable risk, and the resources you’ll use. If there’s a possibility of saving someone’s life, the operation is guided by rapid, life-safety focused tactics, with gear and procedures that maximize chances of rescue while controlling risk. If it’s determined that there’s no reasonable chance of life preservation, the objectives shift toward recovering the victim and reducing hazards for responders, which changes the risk tolerance and methods used. This early decision helps allocate responders, equipment, and actions appropriately from the start.

Weather conditions matter for safety and response, and establishing communications and assessing water depth are important steps, but they do not establish the operation’s direction as decisively as deciding whether the incident is a rescue or a recovery.