Final answer:
The primary duty of a first responder is to rescue victims from emergencies such as fires and to provide essential first aid or CPR once they are safe. This involves wearing protective gear, assessing the situation, and reporting conditions while prioritizing immediate life-saving actions.
Step-by-step explanation:
The highest priority of a first responder must be containing damage through rescue and emergency medical interventions. In situations such as fires, first responders like firefighters must use their training to assess fires and situations and make critical decisions quickly. The immediate goals involve rescuing victims from dangerous situations such as burning buildings, accident sites, and water hazards. Once victims are in a safe location, providing first aid and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), if required, becomes paramount. It's essential for first responders to wear appropriate fire-resistant clothing and breathing apparatus for their protection while they search burning buildings to locate fire victims.
When dealing with individuals who have been submerged underwater, the priority is to remove the person from the water before administering CPR because CPR is ineffective while in the water. Every action taken by a first responder is aimed at minimizing further harm and facilitating the best possible outcome for those involved in the incident.