If a firefighter becomes lost, what should they do?

When a firefighter becomes lost, activating their personal alert safety system (PASS) device is the most critical action. The PASS device is designed to emit a loud alarm after a certain period of inactivity, alerting other firefighters to the presence of an individual in distress. This is crucial in a chaotic environment where visibility is limited and communication may be challenging.

By activating the PASS device, the lost firefighter increases their chances of being located quickly by their team, as the loud sound can be heard even through smoke or noise on the fire ground. This response helps to ensure safety by allowing team members to focus their search in the direction of the signal rather than relying solely on radio communication or trying to retrace steps in a potentially dangerous situation.

The other options may be useful in certain scenarios, but they do not ensure immediate alerting of rescue efforts in the way that activating the PASS device does.