If you are in charge of five canoes and they capsize in a squall, what should be your first action?

In the event of a capsized canoe situation, conducting a headcount of your cadets is the most critical first step. This action ensures that you have an accurate understanding of the number of individuals involved and allows you to assess any immediate needs for assistance or rescue. Knowing who is present and safe is vital for effective management of the situation.

This headcount also allows you to identify if anyone is missing or in distress, which is essential for prioritizing your next actions. Initiating communication and ensuring the safety of all involved creates a structured approach to handling the emergency. Once you are aware of everyone's status, you can then make informed decisions about whether to call for help, guide them to safety, or provide support for those in need.

While swimming to shore or instructing the cadets to swim might seem like logical actions, they could lead to chaos or risk depending on each individual’s swimming ability, environmental conditions, and proximity to safety. Trying to right the canoes without assistance might also be ineffective if there are immediate safety concerns for the cadets. Assessing the situation through a headcount lays the groundwork for a more organized and safe response.