American Red Cross lifeguarding wri en exam|
Ques ons and answers | Updated RATED A+ | 2026
What is the primary responsibility of a lifeguard?
to prevent drowning and other injuries from occurring at your aqua c facility.
Provide three examples of how lifeguards fulfill their primary responsibility
monitoring ac vi es in and near the water through patron servaliance, preven ng injuries by
minimizing or elimina ng hazardous situa ons or behaviors, enforcing facility rules and
regula ons and educa ng patrons about them, recognizing and responding quickly and
effec vely to all the emergencies, administering first air and CPR including using an automated
external defibrillator (AED) and if trained, administering emergency oxygen when needed,
working as a team with other lifeguards, faculty, and staff management.
list 5 examples of secondary responsibili es (other tasks) that should never interfere with
patron serveillance
tes ng the pool water chemistry, assist patrons by performing safety orienta ons, administering
swim tests, fi,ng life jackets and other du es, cleaning or performing maintenance, comple ng
records and reports, performing opening du es, closing du es, or facility safety checks and
inspec ons.
list 5 characteris cs of a professional lifeguard
knowledgable and skilled, reliable, mature, courteous and consistent, posi ve, professional,
healthy and fit
lifeguards should:
always be a.en ve and sit or stand upright when on surveillance duty
a lifeguard is tex ng while on surveillance duty and fails to recognize a swimmer in distress.
what legal principle could be a problem for this lifeguard?
negligence
list the 5 steps that a lifeguard should take when obtaining consent from an injured or ill person
before providing first air or emergency care
,state your name, state your level of training, ask if you may help, explain that you would like to
assess them to find out what you think may be wrong or what you can do to help, explain what
you plan to do.
what is the validity of an American Red Cross lifeguarding cer fica on? how does an American
Red Cross cer fied lifeguard get recer fied?
(2 years.) annual cer fica on training.
why is it important to a.end a pre-season orienta on and training
to ensure lifeguards understand their responsibili es and know how to perform their job, to
ensure that they get prac ce with their facili es safety and rescue equipment and emergency
ac on plans, to ensure they understand codes, rules and regula ons of their facility.
what does EAP stand for
emergency ac on plan
why is it important for lifeguards and other team members to understand and prac ce the EAP
to know what role you'll play, to know how you all work as a team
what is the best prac ce for the frequency of in-service training par cipa on at well-managed
aqua c facili es
at least. hours of in service training each month
what are the benefits of regular, frequent in-service training
gives you a chance to maintain your knowledge and skills at a professional level and prac ce
with the lifeguards at your facility.
list. topics that could be a discussed during in-service training
surveillance and recogni on, water and land rescue skills, emergency response drills, decision
making protocols, facility rules and regula ons, customer service, records and reports and
physical condi oning.
what items are considered to be personal protec ve equipment for a lifeguard
resuscita on mask and gloves. (may also include gowns, masks, shields, protec ve eyewear)
what equipment should be worn or carried by a lifeguard at all mes while on duty? list at least
two and include the reasons why this equipment should be worn or carried
, rescue tube (keeping people afloat), resuscita on mask (one way mouth to mouth contact for
oxygen) and gloves (protect yourself from infec ous materials). (whistle: to signal other
lifeguards)
what safety equipment/items should be easily accessible for a lifeguard while on duty? list at
least two and describe how/when each item is used
back boards (to remove vic ms from the water when they are unable to exit on their own),
rescue buoy (to throw to a person to keep them afloat), other personal protec ve equipment
(PPE), other resuscita on equipment, an automated external defibrillator (AED), first aid
supplies and rescue boards.
as a lifeguard you are responsible for?
consistently enforcing your facili es rules and regula ons
list 5 common rules and regula ons o4en posted at an aqua c facility
swim only when a lifeguard is on duty, swim diapers are required for small children or people
with incon ence, no swimming with open or infected wounds, obey lifeguard instruc ons at all
mes, no hyperven la ng before swimming, underwater or breath holding contests, no si,ng
of playing near or with drains or suc on fi,ngs, dive only in designated areas, no glass
containers in the pool area and locker rooms, no alcoholic beverages or drugs allowed.
explain what it means to be equipped and rescue ready
having like the proper things on you and being alert (not doing other things)
list each type of swimmers in distress or growing vic ms with three observable characteris cs
for each
PAGE 63
DISTRESSED SWIMMER: above the water, trying to support self by holding or clinging to a lane,
line, expression for concern for personal safety, is breathing, floa ng, sculling or treading water,
might wave for help, horizontal, ver cal, or diagonal, li.le or no forward moving progress, less
and less able to support self, able to call for help but might not do so, at the surface of water.
DROWNING VICTIM- ACTIVE: someone who is struggling to remain at the surface of the water,
they are tying to keep their mouth above the water (ins nc ve drowning response). they may
not be able to call out for help, works to keep their face above the water, may be horizontal face
down posi on, has extended arms to the side or front pressing down for support, is posi oned
Ques ons and answers | Updated RATED A+ | 2026
What is the primary responsibility of a lifeguard?
to prevent drowning and other injuries from occurring at your aqua c facility.
Provide three examples of how lifeguards fulfill their primary responsibility
monitoring ac vi es in and near the water through patron servaliance, preven ng injuries by
minimizing or elimina ng hazardous situa ons or behaviors, enforcing facility rules and
regula ons and educa ng patrons about them, recognizing and responding quickly and
effec vely to all the emergencies, administering first air and CPR including using an automated
external defibrillator (AED) and if trained, administering emergency oxygen when needed,
working as a team with other lifeguards, faculty, and staff management.
list 5 examples of secondary responsibili es (other tasks) that should never interfere with
patron serveillance
tes ng the pool water chemistry, assist patrons by performing safety orienta ons, administering
swim tests, fi,ng life jackets and other du es, cleaning or performing maintenance, comple ng
records and reports, performing opening du es, closing du es, or facility safety checks and
inspec ons.
list 5 characteris cs of a professional lifeguard
knowledgable and skilled, reliable, mature, courteous and consistent, posi ve, professional,
healthy and fit
lifeguards should:
always be a.en ve and sit or stand upright when on surveillance duty
a lifeguard is tex ng while on surveillance duty and fails to recognize a swimmer in distress.
what legal principle could be a problem for this lifeguard?
negligence
list the 5 steps that a lifeguard should take when obtaining consent from an injured or ill person
before providing first air or emergency care
,state your name, state your level of training, ask if you may help, explain that you would like to
assess them to find out what you think may be wrong or what you can do to help, explain what
you plan to do.
what is the validity of an American Red Cross lifeguarding cer fica on? how does an American
Red Cross cer fied lifeguard get recer fied?
(2 years.) annual cer fica on training.
why is it important to a.end a pre-season orienta on and training
to ensure lifeguards understand their responsibili es and know how to perform their job, to
ensure that they get prac ce with their facili es safety and rescue equipment and emergency
ac on plans, to ensure they understand codes, rules and regula ons of their facility.
what does EAP stand for
emergency ac on plan
why is it important for lifeguards and other team members to understand and prac ce the EAP
to know what role you'll play, to know how you all work as a team
what is the best prac ce for the frequency of in-service training par cipa on at well-managed
aqua c facili es
at least. hours of in service training each month
what are the benefits of regular, frequent in-service training
gives you a chance to maintain your knowledge and skills at a professional level and prac ce
with the lifeguards at your facility.
list. topics that could be a discussed during in-service training
surveillance and recogni on, water and land rescue skills, emergency response drills, decision
making protocols, facility rules and regula ons, customer service, records and reports and
physical condi oning.
what items are considered to be personal protec ve equipment for a lifeguard
resuscita on mask and gloves. (may also include gowns, masks, shields, protec ve eyewear)
what equipment should be worn or carried by a lifeguard at all mes while on duty? list at least
two and include the reasons why this equipment should be worn or carried
, rescue tube (keeping people afloat), resuscita on mask (one way mouth to mouth contact for
oxygen) and gloves (protect yourself from infec ous materials). (whistle: to signal other
lifeguards)
what safety equipment/items should be easily accessible for a lifeguard while on duty? list at
least two and describe how/when each item is used
back boards (to remove vic ms from the water when they are unable to exit on their own),
rescue buoy (to throw to a person to keep them afloat), other personal protec ve equipment
(PPE), other resuscita on equipment, an automated external defibrillator (AED), first aid
supplies and rescue boards.
as a lifeguard you are responsible for?
consistently enforcing your facili es rules and regula ons
list 5 common rules and regula ons o4en posted at an aqua c facility
swim only when a lifeguard is on duty, swim diapers are required for small children or people
with incon ence, no swimming with open or infected wounds, obey lifeguard instruc ons at all
mes, no hyperven la ng before swimming, underwater or breath holding contests, no si,ng
of playing near or with drains or suc on fi,ngs, dive only in designated areas, no glass
containers in the pool area and locker rooms, no alcoholic beverages or drugs allowed.
explain what it means to be equipped and rescue ready
having like the proper things on you and being alert (not doing other things)
list each type of swimmers in distress or growing vic ms with three observable characteris cs
for each
PAGE 63
DISTRESSED SWIMMER: above the water, trying to support self by holding or clinging to a lane,
line, expression for concern for personal safety, is breathing, floa ng, sculling or treading water,
might wave for help, horizontal, ver cal, or diagonal, li.le or no forward moving progress, less
and less able to support self, able to call for help but might not do so, at the surface of water.
DROWNING VICTIM- ACTIVE: someone who is struggling to remain at the surface of the water,
they are tying to keep their mouth above the water (ins nc ve drowning response). they may
not be able to call out for help, works to keep their face above the water, may be horizontal face
down posi on, has extended arms to the side or front pressing down for support, is posi oned
