American Red Cross Lifeguarding Exam
Questions With Answers
What will American Red Cross Lifeguarding class teach you? (pg. 2)
Teach you skills needed to prevent and respond to aquatic emergencies. Teach land and water rescue
skills plus first aid and CPR
Primary Responsibilities of Lifeguards (pg. 2)
Monitor activities in and near water, prevent injuries by minimalizing hazardous situations, enforce
facility rules, recognize and respond quickly, administering first aid and CPR, work as a team with
other facility employees
Secondary Responsibilities of Lifeguards (pg. 2-3)
test pool water chemistry, assisting patrons, cleaning/maintenance of pool area, completing records
and reports
(pg. 4) Professional Lifeguards SHOULD NOT
Leave your posted station or area while on duty, use mobile phones or other types of communication
while on duty, slouch in chair, participate in conversation with other patrons or lifeguard staff, eat on
stand, use alcohol or drugs (any that could negatively impact your alertness)
F.I.N.D (pg. 6)
F=Figure out the problem
I= Identify possible solutions
N= Name the pros and cons for each solution.
D= Decide which solution is best, then act on it
EAP (pg. 6)
Emergency Action Plan
Duty to Act (pg. 6)
While on the job, you have legal responsibility to act in an emergency
Negligence (pg. 6)
When a person receiving emergency care has additional harm because lifeguards failed to follow the
standard of care
Consent (pg. 6)
All people giving medical care MUST obtain consent before helping an individual
Rescue Tube (pg. 13)
45-54 inch vinyl, foam-filled tube with an attached tow line and shoulder strap capable of keeping
victims afloat
Resuscitation Masks (pg. 13)
Transparent, flexible device that creates a tight seal over the victims mouth and nose to allow you to
breathe air into a victim without making mouth-to-mouth contact.
,Gloves (pg. 13)
Disposable (single-use) gloves are used to protect employees that may be exposed to blood or other
bodily fluids.
Backboards (pg. 13)
Standard piece of equipment used at aquatics facilities to remove victims from water when they are
unable to exit the water on their own. Backboards are also used during head, neck, or back injuries
PPE (pg. 14)
Personal Protective Equipment: specialized clothing, equipment, and supplies used to prevent you
from coming into direct contact with a victims body fluids
BVM (pg. 14)
Bag-Valve-Mask Resuscitator: handheld device attached to a resuscitation mask used to ventilate a
victim in respiratory arrest when performing CPR. BVM REQUIRES TWO RESCUERS.
Oxygen Cylinder and Delivery Device (pg. 14)
Breathing device used to administer emergency oxygen to a victim experiencing breathing or cardiac
emergency
AED (pg. 14)
Automated External Defibrillators: portable electronic device that analyzes a victims heart rhythm and
delivers electrical shock to re-establich proper rhythm.
RWI (pg. 24)
Recreational Water Illness: earaches, rashes, diarrhea that can cause illness in aquatics facility
Formed Stool Emergency (pg. 24)
1. Continue Operation of Filtration System
2. pH must be below 7.5
3. Free chlorine level to AT LEAST 2 ppm
4. Maintain those levels 25 minutes before re-opening pool
Diarrheal Discharge Emergency (pg. 24)
1. Continue operation of circulation system
2. pH must be below 7.5
3. Free chlorine level to AT LEAST 20 ppm
4. Maintain those levels for 13 hours
5. Backwash filter and return chlorine levels to normal levels before opening pool
Lightening / Thunder in Area (pg. 25)
1. Clear Pool / Pool Area
2. Listen / Follow National Weather Service Reports
3. Wait for 30 minutes after the last sight or sound of thunder before resuming activity
, Common Rules (pg. 27)
Swim only when lifeguard on duty, swim diapers required, no swimming with open or infected
wound, obey lifeguard instructions at all times, no running, pushing or horseplay, no hyperventilating
or underwater breath holding, no sitting or playing near or with drains/suction fittings, dive only in
designated areas
Management and Safety (pg.30)
As a lifeguard, your job is to follow and enforce your facility's rules and regulations
Addressing Unsafe Conditions (pg. 31)
Lifeguards experiencing any unsafe conditions should report all issues to management
MSDS (pg. 31)
Material Safety Data Sheet: list of every chemical stored at facility listing the contents of the chemical
Bloodborne Pathogens (pg. 32)
body fluids that may contain disease-causing bacteria and viruses
Patron Surveillance (pg. 33)
keeping a close watch over the people in the facility and intervening when necessary
(pg. 34) The process of drowning begins when...
water enters the victims airway
Laryngospasm (pg. 34)
a sudden closure of the larynx or windpipe (air cannot reach the lungs when this occurs)
(pg. 34) Cardiac Arrest can occur within...
3 minutes of being submerged
(pg. 34) Brain Damage or Death can occur within...
4-6 minutes of being submerged
Effective Surveillance (pg. 34)
recognition of dangerous behaviors, victim recognition, effective scanning, zone of surveillance
responsibility, lifeguard stations
Active Drowning Victim (pg. 37)
a drowning victim who is struggling to remain at the surface of the water (still conscious)
Passive Drowning Victim (pg. 38)
a drowning victim who is not conscious. They do not struggle and slip under the water suddenly.
RID Factor (pg. 44)
Questions With Answers
What will American Red Cross Lifeguarding class teach you? (pg. 2)
Teach you skills needed to prevent and respond to aquatic emergencies. Teach land and water rescue
skills plus first aid and CPR
Primary Responsibilities of Lifeguards (pg. 2)
Monitor activities in and near water, prevent injuries by minimalizing hazardous situations, enforce
facility rules, recognize and respond quickly, administering first aid and CPR, work as a team with
other facility employees
Secondary Responsibilities of Lifeguards (pg. 2-3)
test pool water chemistry, assisting patrons, cleaning/maintenance of pool area, completing records
and reports
(pg. 4) Professional Lifeguards SHOULD NOT
Leave your posted station or area while on duty, use mobile phones or other types of communication
while on duty, slouch in chair, participate in conversation with other patrons or lifeguard staff, eat on
stand, use alcohol or drugs (any that could negatively impact your alertness)
F.I.N.D (pg. 6)
F=Figure out the problem
I= Identify possible solutions
N= Name the pros and cons for each solution.
D= Decide which solution is best, then act on it
EAP (pg. 6)
Emergency Action Plan
Duty to Act (pg. 6)
While on the job, you have legal responsibility to act in an emergency
Negligence (pg. 6)
When a person receiving emergency care has additional harm because lifeguards failed to follow the
standard of care
Consent (pg. 6)
All people giving medical care MUST obtain consent before helping an individual
Rescue Tube (pg. 13)
45-54 inch vinyl, foam-filled tube with an attached tow line and shoulder strap capable of keeping
victims afloat
Resuscitation Masks (pg. 13)
Transparent, flexible device that creates a tight seal over the victims mouth and nose to allow you to
breathe air into a victim without making mouth-to-mouth contact.
,Gloves (pg. 13)
Disposable (single-use) gloves are used to protect employees that may be exposed to blood or other
bodily fluids.
Backboards (pg. 13)
Standard piece of equipment used at aquatics facilities to remove victims from water when they are
unable to exit the water on their own. Backboards are also used during head, neck, or back injuries
PPE (pg. 14)
Personal Protective Equipment: specialized clothing, equipment, and supplies used to prevent you
from coming into direct contact with a victims body fluids
BVM (pg. 14)
Bag-Valve-Mask Resuscitator: handheld device attached to a resuscitation mask used to ventilate a
victim in respiratory arrest when performing CPR. BVM REQUIRES TWO RESCUERS.
Oxygen Cylinder and Delivery Device (pg. 14)
Breathing device used to administer emergency oxygen to a victim experiencing breathing or cardiac
emergency
AED (pg. 14)
Automated External Defibrillators: portable electronic device that analyzes a victims heart rhythm and
delivers electrical shock to re-establich proper rhythm.
RWI (pg. 24)
Recreational Water Illness: earaches, rashes, diarrhea that can cause illness in aquatics facility
Formed Stool Emergency (pg. 24)
1. Continue Operation of Filtration System
2. pH must be below 7.5
3. Free chlorine level to AT LEAST 2 ppm
4. Maintain those levels 25 minutes before re-opening pool
Diarrheal Discharge Emergency (pg. 24)
1. Continue operation of circulation system
2. pH must be below 7.5
3. Free chlorine level to AT LEAST 20 ppm
4. Maintain those levels for 13 hours
5. Backwash filter and return chlorine levels to normal levels before opening pool
Lightening / Thunder in Area (pg. 25)
1. Clear Pool / Pool Area
2. Listen / Follow National Weather Service Reports
3. Wait for 30 minutes after the last sight or sound of thunder before resuming activity
, Common Rules (pg. 27)
Swim only when lifeguard on duty, swim diapers required, no swimming with open or infected
wound, obey lifeguard instructions at all times, no running, pushing or horseplay, no hyperventilating
or underwater breath holding, no sitting or playing near or with drains/suction fittings, dive only in
designated areas
Management and Safety (pg.30)
As a lifeguard, your job is to follow and enforce your facility's rules and regulations
Addressing Unsafe Conditions (pg. 31)
Lifeguards experiencing any unsafe conditions should report all issues to management
MSDS (pg. 31)
Material Safety Data Sheet: list of every chemical stored at facility listing the contents of the chemical
Bloodborne Pathogens (pg. 32)
body fluids that may contain disease-causing bacteria and viruses
Patron Surveillance (pg. 33)
keeping a close watch over the people in the facility and intervening when necessary
(pg. 34) The process of drowning begins when...
water enters the victims airway
Laryngospasm (pg. 34)
a sudden closure of the larynx or windpipe (air cannot reach the lungs when this occurs)
(pg. 34) Cardiac Arrest can occur within...
3 minutes of being submerged
(pg. 34) Brain Damage or Death can occur within...
4-6 minutes of being submerged
Effective Surveillance (pg. 34)
recognition of dangerous behaviors, victim recognition, effective scanning, zone of surveillance
responsibility, lifeguard stations
Active Drowning Victim (pg. 37)
a drowning victim who is struggling to remain at the surface of the water (still conscious)
Passive Drowning Victim (pg. 38)
a drowning victim who is not conscious. They do not struggle and slip under the water suddenly.
RID Factor (pg. 44)
