Delaware Security Guard Practice Exam

In the event of a fire, what is the first action a security guard should take?

1. Search for a fire extinguisher

2. Activate the fire alarm and assist with safe evacuation

3. Call the fire department

4. Wait for instructions from a superior

The correct answer is: Activate the fire alarm and assist with safe evacuation

The first action a security guard should take in the event of a fire is to activate the fire alarm and assist with safe evacuation. This response is grounded in the priority of ensuring the safety of individuals in the vicinity. Activating the fire alarm alerts all occupants of the building to the danger, prompting them to evacuate immediately. This timely notification is crucial to minimizing panic and ensuring that people understand the need to leave the premises quickly and safely. Additionally, assisting with the evacuation means guiding individuals toward safe exits and facilitating an orderly departure from potentially dangerous environments. While searching for a fire extinguisher, calling the fire department, and waiting for instructions could be part of the response to a fire, they do not take precedence over the immediate need to alert others and help evacuate the building. The overarching goal is to protect lives, making prompt activation of the alarm and aiding evacuation the most critical initial step.