Which sequence lists the three safety steps for rappelling?

• A. Knees bent, look down, keep feet together
• B. Hands on hips, step back, slide
• C. Heels on edge, teach how to go and brake, sit in L position
• D. Stand upright, no brake, shuffle

Answer: (C)

Safety in rappelling hinges on a simple, deliberate sequence: protect the rope at the edge, learn to descend with a controlled brake, and adopt a braking-ready body position. Placing the heels on the edge helps anchor you and keeps the rope from riding over the lip or abrading on the edge, creating a stable setup before you start moving. Then you practice how to go and brake—moving down the rope while applying consistent friction with the brake hand so your speed stays manageable rather than uncontrolled. Finally, sitting in an L position gives you a low, stable center of gravity and keeps the braking hand in a good position to modulate friction, preventing sudden speed changes. Together these steps establish safety, control, and reliability during descent. Other sequences either omit a critical braking step, ignore edge protection, or put the body into unsafe postures that can lead to loss of control or rope damage.