Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) SLC Practice Exam

In the R.A.C.E. acronym, what does the "R" stand for?

1. Rescue

2. Respond

3. Register

4. Remove

The correct answer is: Rescue

In the R.A.C.E. acronym, which is commonly used in fire safety procedures, "R" stands for "Rescue." This step involves prioritizing the safety of individuals in the immediate area. When a fire alarm sounds or if a fire is detected, the first action is to rescue anyone who is in immediate danger. This means helping those who may be incapacitated, unable to evacuate on their own, or in harm's way due to smoke or flames. The focus is on ensuring that vulnerable people, such as those with mobility issues or those who may be unaware of the need to evacuate, are assisted to safety quickly. The other options do not represent the initial step in the R.A.C.E. protocol. While "Respond" relates to action taken after ensuring safety, "Register" is not part of this emergency communication framework, and "Remove" could be misconstrued as a physical action without the primary focus on human safety, which R emphasizes. Thus, understanding that "Rescue" is the primary and immediate response reflects the essence of prioritizing human life in emergency situations.