Which statement best describes the use of cribbing in rescues?

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Cribbing is used to distribute load and create a stable base. In rescue scenarios, you often can't lift or move a heavy object from a single point, so you place wooden or plastic blocks in interlocking patterns to spread the weight over a larger area and onto solid ground. This load distribution minimizes the risk of sinking, shifting, or crushing the structure you’re stabilizing, giving you a solid platform to work from when using jacks, airbags, or other lifting tools. The blocks must be solid, dry, and correctly oriented to resist the expected direction of movement and load.

This technique isn’t about powering hydraulic tools, which rely on the tools’ own power sources. It’s not primarily about keeping wheels from moving, though cribbing can be part of a broader stabilization plan; its core purpose is to provide a stable, load-distributing base, not to anchor the scene.