During a rescue, should the rescue system avoid contacting the participant's anchor point?

• A. Yes
• B. No
• C. Sometimes
• D. Not specified

Answer: (B)

During a rescue, the rescue system should engage the participant’s anchor point as part of creating a solid load path. Contacting the anchor helps distribute forces into a fixed, strong point, which stabilizes the casualty and allows you to lift or lower them in a controlled, predictable way. If you avoided using the anchor, the load path could become unstable or rely on weaker parts of the system, increasing the chance of gear failure or uncontrolled movement. The anchor is used to provide a dependable load path, so integrating it into the rescue setup is standard practice, while still selecting a solid, protected anchor and managing load carefully.