What is the correct initial response to a drowning victim?

The most appropriate initial response to a drowning victim involves activating the emergency response system and entering the water with a rescue tube. This approach is correct because it ensures that help is promptly summoned while providing the rescuer with the necessary tools to assist the drowning victim safely. Activating the emergency response system allows professional help to be on the way while the rescuer can focus on the immediate situation.

Using a rescue tube is crucial as it provides flotation support, reducing the risk of drowning for both the victim and the rescuer. Entering the water with a rescue tube promotes a safer rescue because it allows the rescuer to maintain buoyancy and assist the victim more effectively, rather than risking a direct swim without any support.

Assessing the situation beforehand, as implied by this choice, is vital for ensuring personal safety. Jumping in immediately without assessment could lead to additional complications, such as the rescuer becoming a victim themselves. Calling for assistance from other swimmers or providing verbal cues from the shore may not ensure the immediate safety of the victim, as they do not constitute direct action to aid the drowning individual. Thus, activating the emergency response system while preparing to enter the water appropriately addresses the urgency of a drowning scenario.