American Red Cross Lifeguarding Final
Written Exam
What is the primary responsibility of a lifeguard? - To prevent drowning and other injuries
from occurring at their aquatic facility
Provide three examples of how lifeguards fulfill their primary responsibility. - Monitoring
activities in and near the water through patron surveillance, Administering first aid, CPR,
and AED, and Working as a team with other lifeguards, facility staff, and management
List five examples of secondary responsibilities that should never interfere with patron
surveillance. - Testing pool water chemistry, Assist patrons by performing safety
orientations, administrating swim tests, fitting life jackets, and other duties, Cleaning or
performing maintenance, Completing records and reports, and Performing opening duties,
closing duties, or facility safety checks and inspections
List five characteristics of a professional lifeguard. - Knowledgeable and skilled, Reliable,
Mature, Courteous and consistent, and Positive
Lifeguards should always do what? - Be attentive and sit or stand upright when on
surveillance duty
A lifeguard is texting 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 five steps that a lifeguard should take when obtaining consent from an injured or ill
person before providing first aid 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
What is the validity period of an American Red Cross Lifeguarding certification? - Two
years
How does an American Red Cross certified lifeguard get recertified? - Going through the
Lifeguard class or course again
Why is it important to attend a pre-season orientation and training? - To ensure that
lifeguards understand their responsibilities and know how to perform their job, To ensure
that lifeguards get practice with their facility's safety and rescue equipment and emergency
action plans, and To ensure lifeguards understand codes, rules, and regulations of the
facility
What does EAP stand for? - Emergency Action Plan
, Why is it important for lifeguards and other team members to understand and practice the
EAP? - So everyone knows their responsibilities and can perform them effectively
What is the best practice for the frequency of in-service training participation at well-
managed aquatic facilities? - At least four hours of in-service training each month
What are four topics that could be a discussed during in-service training? - Surveillance and
recognition, Water and land rescue skills, Emergency response drills, and Decision-making
protocols (or Facility rules and regulations, Customer service, Records and reports, and
Physical conditioning)
What are the benefits of regular, frequent in-service training? - Helps you maintain your
knowledge and skills at a professional level, gives you a chance to practice with other
lifeguards at your facility, and it will help you to efficiently respond as a team in an
emergency
In a water park setting, what additional items might be included in a safety checklist? -
Inspecting and test run of rides and slides, Checking that rafts, tubes, and/or sleds are
properly inflated and the handles are secure, Landing areas are free of rough surfaces and
debris, Water level and flow is appropriate for attraction, and Electronic dispatch systems
are tested and are operating properly
Why should water parks have signs posted at every attraction stating the water depth? - To
prevent patrons from finding themselves in water that is deeper or shallower than they
expected
What rules are typically covered at water park attractions? - The minimum or maximum
number of people allowed on an attraction or tube at a time, The maximum and minimum
height or weight requirements for patrons using an attraction, Rules for winding rivers, No
jumping or diving into the water, No climbing on any features, Rules for water slides, and
No stacking of tubes or life jackets
What are some factors that make lifeguarding water parks different than typical pool? -
Various attractions, Ride Vehicles, Currents on attractions, Potentially larger crowds, and
Different rules and EAPs
What items are considered to be personal protective equipment for a lifeguard? - Gowns,
Shields, Resuscitation masks, Gloves, and Protective Eyewear
What equipment should be worn or carried by a lifeguard at all times while on duty? (List
at least two and include the reason(s) why this equipment should be worn or carried.) -
Rescue tubes are capable of keeping multiple victims afloat and whistles are used to
activate their facility's EAP and get attention of other members of the safety team and
patrons for policy enforcement
Written Exam
What is the primary responsibility of a lifeguard? - To prevent drowning and other injuries
from occurring at their aquatic facility
Provide three examples of how lifeguards fulfill their primary responsibility. - Monitoring
activities in and near the water through patron surveillance, Administering first aid, CPR,
and AED, and Working as a team with other lifeguards, facility staff, and management
List five examples of secondary responsibilities that should never interfere with patron
surveillance. - Testing pool water chemistry, Assist patrons by performing safety
orientations, administrating swim tests, fitting life jackets, and other duties, Cleaning or
performing maintenance, Completing records and reports, and Performing opening duties,
closing duties, or facility safety checks and inspections
List five characteristics of a professional lifeguard. - Knowledgeable and skilled, Reliable,
Mature, Courteous and consistent, and Positive
Lifeguards should always do what? - Be attentive and sit or stand upright when on
surveillance duty
A lifeguard is texting 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 five steps that a lifeguard should take when obtaining consent from an injured or ill
person before providing first aid 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
What is the validity period of an American Red Cross Lifeguarding certification? - Two
years
How does an American Red Cross certified lifeguard get recertified? - Going through the
Lifeguard class or course again
Why is it important to attend a pre-season orientation and training? - To ensure that
lifeguards understand their responsibilities and know how to perform their job, To ensure
that lifeguards get practice with their facility's safety and rescue equipment and emergency
action plans, and To ensure lifeguards understand codes, rules, and regulations of the
facility
What does EAP stand for? - Emergency Action Plan
, Why is it important for lifeguards and other team members to understand and practice the
EAP? - So everyone knows their responsibilities and can perform them effectively
What is the best practice for the frequency of in-service training participation at well-
managed aquatic facilities? - At least four hours of in-service training each month
What are four topics that could be a discussed during in-service training? - Surveillance and
recognition, Water and land rescue skills, Emergency response drills, and Decision-making
protocols (or Facility rules and regulations, Customer service, Records and reports, and
Physical conditioning)
What are the benefits of regular, frequent in-service training? - Helps you maintain your
knowledge and skills at a professional level, gives you a chance to practice with other
lifeguards at your facility, and it will help you to efficiently respond as a team in an
emergency
In a water park setting, what additional items might be included in a safety checklist? -
Inspecting and test run of rides and slides, Checking that rafts, tubes, and/or sleds are
properly inflated and the handles are secure, Landing areas are free of rough surfaces and
debris, Water level and flow is appropriate for attraction, and Electronic dispatch systems
are tested and are operating properly
Why should water parks have signs posted at every attraction stating the water depth? - To
prevent patrons from finding themselves in water that is deeper or shallower than they
expected
What rules are typically covered at water park attractions? - The minimum or maximum
number of people allowed on an attraction or tube at a time, The maximum and minimum
height or weight requirements for patrons using an attraction, Rules for winding rivers, No
jumping or diving into the water, No climbing on any features, Rules for water slides, and
No stacking of tubes or life jackets
What are some factors that make lifeguarding water parks different than typical pool? -
Various attractions, Ride Vehicles, Currents on attractions, Potentially larger crowds, and
Different rules and EAPs
What items are considered to be personal protective equipment for a lifeguard? - Gowns,
Shields, Resuscitation masks, Gloves, and Protective Eyewear
What equipment should be worn or carried by a lifeguard at all times while on duty? (List
at least two and include the reason(s) why this equipment should be worn or carried.) -
Rescue tubes are capable of keeping multiple victims afloat and whistles are used to
activate their facility's EAP and get attention of other members of the safety team and
patrons for policy enforcement
