What must be done before removing the trapped victim?

• A. Place the victim on a stretcher before any extraction.
• B. Remove tripping hazards and the spreaders from the rescue path.
• C. Power down the aircraft electrical system only after extraction.
• D. Call for auxiliary tools before removing hazards.

Answer: (B)

The key idea is creating a safe rescue path before any movement of the trapped person. Before attempting removal, you must clear the area of hazards that could injure the victim or responders, and remove equipment that might block or snag during extraction, such as spreaders left in the path. Clearing tripping hazards and these tools sets up a clean, safe corridor for the actual rescue effort and reduces the risk of secondary injuries as you work the extrication.

Placing the patient on a stretcher is important, but it comes after you've established a safe path. Powering down the aircraft’s systems is also essential for safety, and it’s best done as part of scene safety early on rather than after extraction. Calling for additional tools can help, but it doesn’t address the immediate need to remove hazards from the rescue path first.