APCAT - Alberta Police Cognitive Ability Prioritizing Critical Actions Flashcards

You arrive at a house fire and learn that (A) a child may still be inside; (B) a neighbour's shed is beginning to smoke; (C) bystanders are filming the scene; (D) a parked car is blocking the fire truck access. What is your FIRST priority?

Answer: Relay information about the child inside to firefighters immediately

Communicating life-safety information (child inside) to the firefighting team is the most critical immediate action.

You are interviewing a witness to a robbery when dispatch advises of a vehicle pursuit passing through your area. What should you do?

Answer: Pause the interview, advise the witness, and assist with the pursuit if directed

An active pursuit is dangerous. You should pause the interview, advise the witness, and be available to assist if directed.

During your patrol you observe: (A) an elderly person sitting alone on a park bench looking disoriented; (B) a sprinkler watering a public sidewalk; (C) a cat stuck in a tree; (D) a faded crosswalk line. Which warrants immediate police attention?

Answer: A

A disoriented elderly person may be experiencing a medical emergency (stroke, dementia episode) and requires a welfare check.

You are conducting a routine traffic stop when the driver mentions that their passenger suddenly became unresponsive. What should you do first?

Answer: Request medical assistance immediately and assess the passenger's condition

An unresponsive person requires immediate medical assessment — this takes absolute priority over a traffic stop.

You are assigned four tasks: (A) investigate a theft reported three days ago; (B) respond to a report of a person brandishing a firearm; (C) follow up on a noise complaint from last week; (D) deliver a community notice to a business. What should you do first?

Answer: B

A person brandishing a firearm is an immediate and dangerous in-progress situation that takes absolute priority.

You have the following situations to address: (A) a witness waiting at the station to give a statement about a fraud case; (B) your supervisor asked you to complete an online training module; (C) a child is reported wandering alone on a busy highway; (D) a community group needs a speaker for their monthly meeting. Which is the highest priority?

Answer: C

A child alone on a busy highway faces an immediate and severe risk of being struck by a vehicle — this is a life-safety emergency.