What is the first action taken upon a MAYDAY report?

• A. Incident Command will immediately initiate a PAR
• B. Dispatch more units to the scene
• C. Issue an all-clear
• D. Reassign responsibilities

Answer: (A)

When a MAYDAY is declared, the immediate priority is to know exactly who is inside the hazard area and where they are. The first action is for Incident Command to initiate a Personnel Accountability Report (PAR). This quickly confirms the status and location of every member, identifies anyone missing or trapped, and sets the stage for directing a targeted rescue. Without establishing accountability right away, you don’t know who needs help or where to deploy resources, which can waste valuable time.

Bringing in more units, issuing an all-clear, or reassigning responsibilities are important steps, but they come after you’ve established who is accounted for and who needs rescue. A PAR provides the essential situational picture that guides the rest of the response.