What action should be taken immediately in a missing-person situation?

In a missing-person situation, selecting search teams for both land and water is the most effective immediate action because it allows for a coordinated response that can hasten the search. When a person goes missing, especially in an aquatic environment, time is of the essence, and initiating a comprehensive search promptly is crucial.

Choosing to deploy search teams in both areas ensures that all potential locations where the individual may be found are covered simultaneously. Searches in the water need to begin as soon as possible, given the risks associated with drowning, while land searches can help locate the person if they have strayed away from the water.

The other options may not provide the swift and effective response required in such urgent scenarios. Starting with a land search may delay the response in the water, which is critical in drowning situations. Gathering patrons to merely watch can cause chaos and hinder rescue efforts rather than facilitate them. Calling emergency responders is necessary eventually, but it should not replace the immediate and active engagement of search teams already present. Thus, coordinating a dual approach with specific teams is vital for timely action.