STARGUARD TEST STUDY GUIDE 2026
COMPLETE QUESTIONS AND VERIFIED
CORRECT ANSWERS GRADED A+
⩥ Which of the layers of protection helps guide decisions and serves as a
rule for specific circumstances? Answer: Policies and procedures.
⩥ A policy that requires non-swimmers to stay in waist-deep water may
reduce the risk of drowning. Answer: True
⩥ What are three ways to minimize the risk of injury in an aquatic
facility? Answer: Inspect for hazards, eliminate known hazards, and
enforce rules.
⩥ Swimmers should not be allowed to participate in breath-holding or
underwater swimming contests. Answer: True
⩥ In an aquatic facility, slipping and falling is usually caused by
Answer: running.
⩥ The StarGuard Risk Management Model consists of the following:
Answer: prevention, surveillance, respond and rescue, emergency care,
workplace expectations.
,⩥ What is a good course of action if the behavior of another person is
suspicious enough for you to be concerned? Answer: Notify your
supervisor and call for police assistance.
⩥ What does RWI stand for? Answer: Recreational Water Illness.
⩥ Personal protection equipment (PPE) should, at a minimum, include
which items? Answer: Disposable gloves, barrier (CPR) mask,
protective eyewear, and footwear.
⩥ Why is disease more likely to be transmitted through loose stools
(diarrhea), rather than a solid stool? Answer: If a person is ill with
diarrhea, the stool can contain millions of germs that spread quickly
through the water.
⩥ What would you do if you were using standard (universal)
precautions? Answer: Consider and treat all bodily fluids and bodily
substances as through they were contaminated.
⩥ What is the proper ratio of bleach to water for a solution that will be
used to clean up bodily fluids and fecal matter on surfaces around the
pool? Answer: 1 part bleach to 9 parts water
,⩥ If a break in your skin is directly exposed to a patron's bodily fluids,
what is the first thing you should do? Answer: Wash the area with soap
and water.
⩥ Which of the following are germs that can cause recreational water
illness? Answer: Norovirus, cryptosporidium, E. coli, and giardia.
⩥ Occupational exposure to blood or the bodily fluids from another
person puts you at risk for which diseases? Answer: HIV/AIDS, hepatitis
B (HBV), and hepatitis C (HCV)
⩥ What should you assume about blood and other body fluids from all
persons? Answer: The fluids are potentially infectious.
⩥ How long has the parasite cryptosporidium been known to survive,
even in properly maintained swimming pool water? Answer: Up to 11
days.
⩥ What is the difference between distress and drowning? Answer: A
person is drowning if the face and airway (mouth and nose) are covered
with water and the head cannot be lifted or brought to the surface to
breathe.
⩥ How quickly a person progresses from distress to drowning varies
depending on many circumstances. Answer: True
, ⩥ What happens when a drowning person tries to breathe? Answer: The
person may swallow large amounts of water.
⩥ What determines whether water is "shallow" or not? Answer: A
person's height
⩥ Which is the correct description of drowning? Answer: Drowning is a
process with three possible outcomes: survival without brain damage,
survival with brain damage, or death.
⩥ Which organs are at greatest risk for permanent damage during
drowning? Answer: Brain and heart
⩥ It is correct to say that a person had a "near drowning" if he or she
survives. Answer: False
⩥ Why is it important to get air to a person who is drowning as quickly
as possible? Answer: To prevent or minimize brain damage, to prevent
the heart from stopping, and to keep the organs functioning.
⩥ The length of time that a person is submerged is the most important
predictor of survival. Answer: True
COMPLETE QUESTIONS AND VERIFIED
CORRECT ANSWERS GRADED A+
⩥ Which of the layers of protection helps guide decisions and serves as a
rule for specific circumstances? Answer: Policies and procedures.
⩥ A policy that requires non-swimmers to stay in waist-deep water may
reduce the risk of drowning. Answer: True
⩥ What are three ways to minimize the risk of injury in an aquatic
facility? Answer: Inspect for hazards, eliminate known hazards, and
enforce rules.
⩥ Swimmers should not be allowed to participate in breath-holding or
underwater swimming contests. Answer: True
⩥ In an aquatic facility, slipping and falling is usually caused by
Answer: running.
⩥ The StarGuard Risk Management Model consists of the following:
Answer: prevention, surveillance, respond and rescue, emergency care,
workplace expectations.
,⩥ What is a good course of action if the behavior of another person is
suspicious enough for you to be concerned? Answer: Notify your
supervisor and call for police assistance.
⩥ What does RWI stand for? Answer: Recreational Water Illness.
⩥ Personal protection equipment (PPE) should, at a minimum, include
which items? Answer: Disposable gloves, barrier (CPR) mask,
protective eyewear, and footwear.
⩥ Why is disease more likely to be transmitted through loose stools
(diarrhea), rather than a solid stool? Answer: If a person is ill with
diarrhea, the stool can contain millions of germs that spread quickly
through the water.
⩥ What would you do if you were using standard (universal)
precautions? Answer: Consider and treat all bodily fluids and bodily
substances as through they were contaminated.
⩥ What is the proper ratio of bleach to water for a solution that will be
used to clean up bodily fluids and fecal matter on surfaces around the
pool? Answer: 1 part bleach to 9 parts water
,⩥ If a break in your skin is directly exposed to a patron's bodily fluids,
what is the first thing you should do? Answer: Wash the area with soap
and water.
⩥ Which of the following are germs that can cause recreational water
illness? Answer: Norovirus, cryptosporidium, E. coli, and giardia.
⩥ Occupational exposure to blood or the bodily fluids from another
person puts you at risk for which diseases? Answer: HIV/AIDS, hepatitis
B (HBV), and hepatitis C (HCV)
⩥ What should you assume about blood and other body fluids from all
persons? Answer: The fluids are potentially infectious.
⩥ How long has the parasite cryptosporidium been known to survive,
even in properly maintained swimming pool water? Answer: Up to 11
days.
⩥ What is the difference between distress and drowning? Answer: A
person is drowning if the face and airway (mouth and nose) are covered
with water and the head cannot be lifted or brought to the surface to
breathe.
⩥ How quickly a person progresses from distress to drowning varies
depending on many circumstances. Answer: True
, ⩥ What happens when a drowning person tries to breathe? Answer: The
person may swallow large amounts of water.
⩥ What determines whether water is "shallow" or not? Answer: A
person's height
⩥ Which is the correct description of drowning? Answer: Drowning is a
process with three possible outcomes: survival without brain damage,
survival with brain damage, or death.
⩥ Which organs are at greatest risk for permanent damage during
drowning? Answer: Brain and heart
⩥ It is correct to say that a person had a "near drowning" if he or she
survives. Answer: False
⩥ Why is it important to get air to a person who is drowning as quickly
as possible? Answer: To prevent or minimize brain damage, to prevent
the heart from stopping, and to keep the organs functioning.
⩥ The length of time that a person is submerged is the most important
predictor of survival. Answer: True
