Which knot is used to join two ropes together in rescue contexts?

• A. Water Knot
• B. Square Knot
• C. Figure 8 Bend
• D. Reef Knot

Answer: (C)

Joining two ropes in rescue work calls for a knot that stays secure under load, is easy to inspect, and unties after the tension is released. The figure eight bend is ideal here because it creates a solid, interlocking join that distributes the load across two strands without allowing the knot to slip or jam under tension. Its structure is straightforward to verify in the field, so you can quickly confirm it’s tied correctly, and it tends to untie more reliably after unloading than many other rope-to-rope joins.

The water knot is intended for joining flat webbing, not rope, so it isn’t appropriate for rope-to-rope connections. The square knot (reef knot) and the reef knot-style tie can slip or capsize under load, especially when rope diameters differ or when heavy tension is applied, making them unreliable for rescue situations.