ACA ACA Rescue & Emergency Response 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the first priority when responding to a capsized paddler in moving water?
- Retrieve floating gear
- Ensure your own safety before assisting (Correct answer)
- Swim to the victim immediately
- Signal for outside help
Correct answer: Ensure your own safety before assisting
The first principle of rescue is ensuring your own safety so you do not become an additional victim.
Question 2: Which rescue method should an ACA instructor attempt FIRST when a paddler swims in a rapid?
- Throwing a rescue bag (Correct answer)
- Jumping in and swimming to them
- Paddling to them immediately
- Using a reach pole
Correct answer: Throwing a rescue bag
The throw bag is the preferred first response because it keeps the rescuer on shore or in a safe position.
Question 3: What does the acronym 'STOP' stand for in paddling emergency management?
- Swim, Tread, Observe, Paddle
- Stop, Think, Observe, Plan (Correct answer)
- Secure, Tow, Orient, Proceed
- Signal, Turn, Orient, Pull
Correct answer: Stop, Think, Observe, Plan
STOP (Stop, Think, Observe, Plan) is a decision-making framework used to prevent panic and enable methodical emergency response.
Question 4: When performing a contact tow on a capsized kayak, where should the rescuer position their bow?
- Beside the swimmer's hip
- Under the overturned hull
- Against the stern of the swamped boat
- At the bow of the swamped boat (Correct answer)
Correct answer: At the bow of the swamped boat
The rescuer's bow is placed against the bow of the swamped kayak to push or tow it to safety.
Question 5: What is 'Rescue 3' in the context of ACA swiftwater training?
- A three-person extraction team
- An international swiftwater rescue certification provider (Correct answer)
- A three-stage emergency protocol
- The third level of ACA rescue certification
Correct answer: An international swiftwater rescue certification provider
Rescue 3 International is a well-known organization that provides swiftwater rescue courses that complement ACA instructor training.
Question 6: In an entrapment situation where a paddler is pinned against a rock, what is the MOST dangerous immediate action?
- Throwing a line attached to the victim's body (Correct answer)
- Calling 911
- Stabilizing the paddler's head above water
- Positioning a boat downstream as a safety net
Correct answer: Throwing a line attached to the victim's body
Attaching a line to a pinned paddler can increase the force holding them against the obstacle and may cause drowning.
ACA ACA Rescue & Emergency Response 1
What is the first priority when responding to a capsized paddler in moving water?