Where should the Rehabilitation Area be located relative to the incident site?

• A. Away from incident site in the cold zone
• B. Inside hot zone
• C. In the warm zone near staging
• D. In the command post

Answer: (A)

Rehabilitation is placed in the cold zone, away from the hazard, so responders can rest, hydrate, and be medically monitored in a safe environment without exposure to ongoing dangers. The cold zone is the area outside the hazard where support functions operate, which makes it the appropriate place for recovery activities. It should not be in the hot zone, where the hazard is present, nor in the warm zone near staging where exposure or contamination risks linger. It isn’t the command post, which is reserved for incident management; rehab is a separate function that needs to be in a safe, controlled area nearby but outside the hazard.