Which rescue resource did Breashears offer after batteries?

• A. Oxygen
• B. Radio communications
• C. First aid supplies
• D. Food and water

Answer: (A)

In high-altitude rescue situations, supplemental oxygen directly counteracts hypoxia caused by thin air. Providing oxygen helps a climber breathe more easily, improves thinking and energy, and can stabilize someone enough for a rescue to proceed. When Breashears offered oxygen after the batteries ran down, it showed using a non-electronic, immediately effective resource to treat the physiological problem of altitude—that is, not relying on powered devices to assist rescue.

The other options aren’t as immediately helpful in this moment. Radio communications depend on functioning batteries, so they can be unavailable when power fails. First aid supplies and food/water are important, but they don’t quickly address the life-threatening issue of not getting enough oxygen at extreme altitude. Oxygen directly tackles the core emergency in that scenario.