American Red Cross Lifeguarding Exam
Questions With Verified Answers
What is the primary responsibility of a lifeguard?
To prevent drowning and other injuries from occurring at their aquatic facility
Examples of fulfilling primary responsibilities
- Monitoring activities in and near the water through patron surveillance
- Preventing injuries by minimizing or eliminating hazardous behaviors
- Enforcing facility rules and regulations and educating patrons about them
- Recognizing and responding quickly and effectively to all emergencies
- Administering first aid and CPR, including using an ARD and, of trained, administering emergency
oxygen when needed
- Working as a team with other lifeguards, facility staff, and management
Examples of secondary responsibilities that should never interfere with patron surveillance
- Testing the pool water chemistry
- Assist patrons by performing safety orientations, administering swim tests, fitting life jackets, and
other duties
- Cleaning or performing maintenance
- Completing records and reports
- Performing opening duties, closing duties, or facility safety checks and inspections
Characteristics of a professional lifeguard
- Knowledgeable and skilled
- Reliable
- Mature
- Courteous and consistent
- Positive
- Professional
- Healthy and fit (exercise, eat/hydrate properly, rest adequately, protect yourself from sun exposure)
Legal considerations
1. Duty to Act
2. Standard of Care
3. Negligence
4. Abandonment
5. Confidentiality
6. Documentation
7. Consent
8. Refusal of care
How to obtain consent
1. Name
2. Level of training
3. Ask if you may help
4. Explain that you would like to assess them to find out what you think may be wrong or what you
can do to help
5. Explain what you plan to do
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 get
practice with their facility's safety and rescue equipment and EAP, to ensure lifeguards understand
codes, rules, and regulations of the facility
1. EAP
2. Why is it important for lifeguards and other team members to understand and practice the EAP?
1. Emergency Action Plan
2. You will learn how staff members work together in a variety of circumstances, gives teammates a
chance to work on different responder roles together, so everyone knows their responsibilities and
can perform them effectively
In-service training
Takes place while you are employed as a lifeguard and is designed to help you maintain your
knowledge and skills at a professional level. It also gives you a chance to practice with other lifeguards
at your facility and help you efficiently respond as a team in an emergency
What is the best practice for the frequency of in-service training participation at well-managed
aquatic facilities?
At least 4 hours of in-service training each month
Topics that could be discussed during in-service training
Surveillance, recognition, water and land rescue skills, emergency response drills, decision-making
protocols, facility rules and regulations, customer service, records and reports and physical
conditioning
Rescue tubes
45- to 54-inch vinyl, foam-filled tube with an attached tow line and shoulder strap. Is capable of
keeping multiple victims afloat
Resuscitation Masks
Transparent, flexible device that creates a tight seal over the victim's mouth and nose to allow you to
breathe air into a victim without making mouth to mouth contact. All masks should have a one-way
valve for releasing exhaled air. Some masks also have an inlet for administering emergency oxygen,
and come in different sizes to ensure a proper fit and tight seal
Gloves
Disposable (single-use) gloves are used to protect employees that may be exposed to blood and other
potentially infectious material (OPIM). Gloves should be made of non-latex materials, such as nitrate.
Gloves should also be powder free.
Whistle
Important signaling devices for lifeguards, used to activate the EAP, and get attention of other
members of the safety team and patrons. Should be loud, made of material that will not rust, and
have breakaway lanyards
Backboard
Standard piece of equipment to remove victims from the water when they are unable to exit the
water on their own or when they have a possible injury to the head, neck, or spine. Some have
, runners on the bottom that allowed the board to slide easily onto a deck or pier. Must have straps to
secure a victim in cases of head, neck, or spinal injury, in addition to a device for immobilizing the
head
Rescue buoy
Rescue can/torpedo buoy, primary piece of rescue equipment for waterfronts and surf beaches.
Made of lightweight, hard, buoyant plastic and vary in length from 25 to 34 inches. Molded handgrips
along the sides and rear of the buoy allow the victim to keep a firm hold on the buoy, and are buoyant
enough to support multiple victims
PPE
Personal protective equipment- specialized clothing, equipment, and supplies used to prevent you
from coming into direct contact with a victim's bodily fluids. Gloves, resuscitation masks, gowns,
masks, shields, protective eyewear, and a blood spill kit.
BVM
Bag valve mask resuscitator- Hand held device attached to a resuscitation mask that is used to
ventilate a victim in respiratory arrest or when performing CPR. Appropriate sized BVM should be
used based on the size of the victim, requires two rescuers: one to maintain a tight seal for the mask
and one to squeeze the bag
AED
Automated external defibrillator- portable electronic device that analyzes the heart's rhythm and can
deliver an electrical shock, which helps the heart to re-establish an effective rhythm. Used in
conjunction for CPR on unconscious victims with no obvious signs of life
Other resuscitation equipment
- oxygen cylinders and delivery devices
- suctioning devices
- airways
Rescue boards
Made of plastic or fiberglass and may include a soft rubber deck. Shaped similarly to a surf board but
usually are larger to accommodate a lifeguard plus one or more victims. Fast, stable, and easy to use.
May be used to quickly paddle out long distances or as a patrolling device
Ring buoys, reaching poles, and shepherd's crooks
Not typically used by lifeguards to perform professional rescues but for untrained bystanders
Lightning and thunderstorms
- clear everyone from water
- move everyone to a safe area free from contact with water, plumbing, or electrical circuits
- keep everyone away from metal and windows
- keep away from tall trees/tall structures
- keep as low to the ground as possible (squat/crouch with the knees drawn up, both feet together
and hands off the ground)
- avoid laying flat on ground
Questions With Verified Answers
What is the primary responsibility of a lifeguard?
To prevent drowning and other injuries from occurring at their aquatic facility
Examples of fulfilling primary responsibilities
- Monitoring activities in and near the water through patron surveillance
- Preventing injuries by minimizing or eliminating hazardous behaviors
- Enforcing facility rules and regulations and educating patrons about them
- Recognizing and responding quickly and effectively to all emergencies
- Administering first aid and CPR, including using an ARD and, of trained, administering emergency
oxygen when needed
- Working as a team with other lifeguards, facility staff, and management
Examples of secondary responsibilities that should never interfere with patron surveillance
- Testing the pool water chemistry
- Assist patrons by performing safety orientations, administering swim tests, fitting life jackets, and
other duties
- Cleaning or performing maintenance
- Completing records and reports
- Performing opening duties, closing duties, or facility safety checks and inspections
Characteristics of a professional lifeguard
- Knowledgeable and skilled
- Reliable
- Mature
- Courteous and consistent
- Positive
- Professional
- Healthy and fit (exercise, eat/hydrate properly, rest adequately, protect yourself from sun exposure)
Legal considerations
1. Duty to Act
2. Standard of Care
3. Negligence
4. Abandonment
5. Confidentiality
6. Documentation
7. Consent
8. Refusal of care
How to obtain consent
1. Name
2. Level of training
3. Ask if you may help
4. Explain that you would like to assess them to find out what you think may be wrong or what you
can do to help
5. Explain what you plan to do
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 get
practice with their facility's safety and rescue equipment and EAP, to ensure lifeguards understand
codes, rules, and regulations of the facility
1. EAP
2. Why is it important for lifeguards and other team members to understand and practice the EAP?
1. Emergency Action Plan
2. You will learn how staff members work together in a variety of circumstances, gives teammates a
chance to work on different responder roles together, so everyone knows their responsibilities and
can perform them effectively
In-service training
Takes place while you are employed as a lifeguard and is designed to help you maintain your
knowledge and skills at a professional level. It also gives you a chance to practice with other lifeguards
at your facility and help you efficiently respond as a team in an emergency
What is the best practice for the frequency of in-service training participation at well-managed
aquatic facilities?
At least 4 hours of in-service training each month
Topics that could be discussed during in-service training
Surveillance, recognition, water and land rescue skills, emergency response drills, decision-making
protocols, facility rules and regulations, customer service, records and reports and physical
conditioning
Rescue tubes
45- to 54-inch vinyl, foam-filled tube with an attached tow line and shoulder strap. Is capable of
keeping multiple victims afloat
Resuscitation Masks
Transparent, flexible device that creates a tight seal over the victim's mouth and nose to allow you to
breathe air into a victim without making mouth to mouth contact. All masks should have a one-way
valve for releasing exhaled air. Some masks also have an inlet for administering emergency oxygen,
and come in different sizes to ensure a proper fit and tight seal
Gloves
Disposable (single-use) gloves are used to protect employees that may be exposed to blood and other
potentially infectious material (OPIM). Gloves should be made of non-latex materials, such as nitrate.
Gloves should also be powder free.
Whistle
Important signaling devices for lifeguards, used to activate the EAP, and get attention of other
members of the safety team and patrons. Should be loud, made of material that will not rust, and
have breakaway lanyards
Backboard
Standard piece of equipment to remove victims from the water when they are unable to exit the
water on their own or when they have a possible injury to the head, neck, or spine. Some have
, runners on the bottom that allowed the board to slide easily onto a deck or pier. Must have straps to
secure a victim in cases of head, neck, or spinal injury, in addition to a device for immobilizing the
head
Rescue buoy
Rescue can/torpedo buoy, primary piece of rescue equipment for waterfronts and surf beaches.
Made of lightweight, hard, buoyant plastic and vary in length from 25 to 34 inches. Molded handgrips
along the sides and rear of the buoy allow the victim to keep a firm hold on the buoy, and are buoyant
enough to support multiple victims
PPE
Personal protective equipment- specialized clothing, equipment, and supplies used to prevent you
from coming into direct contact with a victim's bodily fluids. Gloves, resuscitation masks, gowns,
masks, shields, protective eyewear, and a blood spill kit.
BVM
Bag valve mask resuscitator- Hand held device attached to a resuscitation mask that is used to
ventilate a victim in respiratory arrest or when performing CPR. Appropriate sized BVM should be
used based on the size of the victim, requires two rescuers: one to maintain a tight seal for the mask
and one to squeeze the bag
AED
Automated external defibrillator- portable electronic device that analyzes the heart's rhythm and can
deliver an electrical shock, which helps the heart to re-establish an effective rhythm. Used in
conjunction for CPR on unconscious victims with no obvious signs of life
Other resuscitation equipment
- oxygen cylinders and delivery devices
- suctioning devices
- airways
Rescue boards
Made of plastic or fiberglass and may include a soft rubber deck. Shaped similarly to a surf board but
usually are larger to accommodate a lifeguard plus one or more victims. Fast, stable, and easy to use.
May be used to quickly paddle out long distances or as a patrolling device
Ring buoys, reaching poles, and shepherd's crooks
Not typically used by lifeguards to perform professional rescues but for untrained bystanders
Lightning and thunderstorms
- clear everyone from water
- move everyone to a safe area free from contact with water, plumbing, or electrical circuits
- keep everyone away from metal and windows
- keep away from tall trees/tall structures
- keep as low to the ground as possible (squat/crouch with the knees drawn up, both feet together
and hands off the ground)
- avoid laying flat on ground
