What is a significant risk during a water rescue?

Exposure to strong currents is a significant risk during a water rescue because these conditions can rapidly change and pose serious danger to both the rescuers and the individuals being rescued. Strong currents can overwhelm a rescuer’s ability to maintain control and can easily lead to injury or even drowning if the rescuer is swept away or unable to navigate effectively. This variable in the water environment requires rescuers to continually assess and adapt to changing conditions, making it critical to prioritize safety while executing the rescue.

While oversights in rescue plans, lack of public support, and insufficient paperwork can all pose challenges, they typically do not represent immediate physical dangers in the way that strong currents do. Instead, these aspects might affect the planning and execution of a rescue operation but do not have the same direct and potentially fatal consequences as exposure to hazardous water conditions.