Situation–Reaction Test — Drowning Child Emergency:\nYou are passing by a river and you know swimming. Suddenly, you hear the cry of a drowning child. What would you do?

Introduction / Context:
This item evaluates emergency response ethics and practical judgment. When life is at immediate risk and you possess the relevant skill (swimming), the expected response is timely, direct intervention while maintaining your own safety.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• You are present at a river.
• You are competent at swimming.
• A child is actively drowning—seconds matter.
• No professional rescuer is immediately on scene.

Concept / Approach:
In rescue priorities, immediate, safe action is paramount. Standard guidance: shout for help, quickly assess currents/entry points, avoid hazardous dives, use reach/throw aids if possible, but if none are available and you are capable, enter the water with a safe approach (rear approach, minimal contact risk).

Step-by-Step Solution:
1) Raise alarm to attract assistance; call emergency services if feasible.2) If a reachable aid (stick/rope/float) is available, use it; otherwise proceed to a controlled entry.3) Approach from behind to avoid being grabbed; support the airway and move to shore.4) After rescue, assess breathing and provide basic first aid while awaiting medical help.

Verification / Alternative check:
Rescue guidelines emphasize speed balanced with rescuer safety—delays looking for professionals can be fatal in active drowning.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Waiting (b) or searching for divers (c) wastes critical seconds; consoling parents (d) does not address the immediate threat; only calling for help (e) without action ignores your capacity to intervene.

Common Pitfalls:
Panicked dives, unsafe entries, or direct frontal grabs that endanger both rescuer and victim.

Final Answer:
Act immediately and safely: enter and rescue the child.