What are the primary components of an anchor system used for rescue?

• A. Rope and protective gear only.
• B. Anchor points, anchor lines, connectors (carabiners, slings), and load-distributing hardware with redundancy.
• C. Pulleys and belay devices exclusively.
• D. Floating anchor devices and CO2 cartridges.

Answer: (B)

Anchor reliability in rescue hinges on solid anchor points, properly prepared anchor lines, secure connectors, and load-distributing hardware with redundancy. Anchor points are the fixed structures or natural features chosen to withstand the expected load; they should be strong, stable, and oriented to direct force along their strongest axis. Anchor lines carry the load from the anchor to the systems you’re using, and using multiple lines or a dedicated anchor rope helps create redundancy and share the load. Connectors, such as carabiners and slings, securely join lines to anchors and to the load, and they must be properly rated, oriented, and locked to prevent accidental opening. Load-distributing hardware with redundancy distributes force across several anchors and keeps the system intact even if one component fails; this is often achieved through equalized or multi-point anchor configurations with backup attachments.

Rope and protective gear are essential tools in the rescue operation, but they are not the primary components of the anchor system itself. Pulleys and belay devices manage rope movement and control loads, not the anchor’s core load path. Floating anchor devices and CO2 cartridges are not standard parts of a rope rescue anchor system.