Red Cross Lifeguard Rescues 2025 /
2026
General procedures for a water emergency - ANS 1. Activate EAP
2. Enter the water, if necessary
3. Perform an appropriate rescue
4. Move the victim to a safe exit point
5. remove the victim from the water
6. provide emergency care as needed
7. Report, advise, and release
slide-in entry - ANS slower and useful in shallow water, crowded pools or
when a victim has a head neck or spinal injury close to the side of the pool;
1. sit down on the edge facing the water. place the rescue tube next to you or in the
water
2. lower your body into the water feet first
3. retrieve the rescue tube
4. place the rescue tube across your chest with the tube under your armpits, focus
on the victim and begin the approach
stride jump entry - ANS only if the water is at least 5 feet deep and you are no
more than 3 feet above the water:
1. squeeze the rescue tube high against your chest with the tube under your armpits
2. hold the excess line to keep the line from getting caught on something when
jumping into the water
3. leap into the water with one leg forward and the other leg back
4. lean slightly forward with you chest ahead of your hips, and focus on the victim
when you enter the water
5. squeeze or scissor your legs together right after they make contact with the water
for upward thrust
6. focus on the victim and begin your approach
compact jump entry - ANS this can be used from the deck or from a height,
depending on the depth of the water; above 3 feet from the surface of the water, the
water should be at least 5 feet deep:
1. squeeze the rescue tube high against your chest with the tube under your armpits
2. hold the excess line to keep it from getting caught in the lifeguard chair or other
equipment when jumping into the water
3. jump out and away from the lifeguard chair, pool deck or pier. in a wave pool, time
the jump to land on the crest of the wave
4. bend your knees and keep your feet together and flat to absorb the shock if you hit
the bottom. do not point your toes or keep your legs straight or stiff
5. let the buoyancy of the rescue tube bring you back to the surface
6. focus on the victim and begin your approach
, Red Cross Lifeguard Rescues 2025 /
2026
run and swim entry - ANS enter the water from a gradual slope-zero depth
area such as a shoreline or wave pool:
1. hold the rescue tube and excess line above the water, lift your knees high while
running to avoid falling
2. once you cant run anymore, put the tube across your chest and begin swimming;
dont dive into shallow water
front crawl approach - ANS with the rescue tube under your armpits/torso, in
control, front crawl towards the victim
breaststroke approach - ANS with the rescue tube under your armpits/torso, in
control, breaststroke towards the victim
long distance approach - ANS allow the rescue tube to trail behind you and
reposition it in front of you before contacting the victim
walking approach - ANS in shallow water, hold the tube beside you and walk
quickly, repositioning the tube before contacting the victim
simple assist - ANS used in shallow water; helping a person to stand, or
submerged victims that are within reach:
1. approach the person who needs help while keeping the rescue tube between you
and the person
2. reach across the tube and grasp the person at the armpit to help the person
maintain his or her balance: if the person is underwater grasp the person under the
armpits with both hands and help him or her stand up
3. assist the person to the exit point
reaching assist - ANS used with a distressed swimmer who is close to the side
of the pool; extend rescue tube within victim's grasp, be sure to have a sturdy stance
(or ly down) when reaching toward the victim:
1. extend the tube to teh victim, keeping your body weight on your back foot and
crouching to avoid being pulled in the water: remove the strap if you need to reach
the victim by holding the strap in one hand and the tube in the other
2. tell the victim to grab the tube
3. slowly pull the victim to safety
active victim front rescue - ANS used for a drowning victim who is facing
toward you:
1. approach the victim from the front
2026
General procedures for a water emergency - ANS 1. Activate EAP
2. Enter the water, if necessary
3. Perform an appropriate rescue
4. Move the victim to a safe exit point
5. remove the victim from the water
6. provide emergency care as needed
7. Report, advise, and release
slide-in entry - ANS slower and useful in shallow water, crowded pools or
when a victim has a head neck or spinal injury close to the side of the pool;
1. sit down on the edge facing the water. place the rescue tube next to you or in the
water
2. lower your body into the water feet first
3. retrieve the rescue tube
4. place the rescue tube across your chest with the tube under your armpits, focus
on the victim and begin the approach
stride jump entry - ANS only if the water is at least 5 feet deep and you are no
more than 3 feet above the water:
1. squeeze the rescue tube high against your chest with the tube under your armpits
2. hold the excess line to keep the line from getting caught on something when
jumping into the water
3. leap into the water with one leg forward and the other leg back
4. lean slightly forward with you chest ahead of your hips, and focus on the victim
when you enter the water
5. squeeze or scissor your legs together right after they make contact with the water
for upward thrust
6. focus on the victim and begin your approach
compact jump entry - ANS this can be used from the deck or from a height,
depending on the depth of the water; above 3 feet from the surface of the water, the
water should be at least 5 feet deep:
1. squeeze the rescue tube high against your chest with the tube under your armpits
2. hold the excess line to keep it from getting caught in the lifeguard chair or other
equipment when jumping into the water
3. jump out and away from the lifeguard chair, pool deck or pier. in a wave pool, time
the jump to land on the crest of the wave
4. bend your knees and keep your feet together and flat to absorb the shock if you hit
the bottom. do not point your toes or keep your legs straight or stiff
5. let the buoyancy of the rescue tube bring you back to the surface
6. focus on the victim and begin your approach
, Red Cross Lifeguard Rescues 2025 /
2026
run and swim entry - ANS enter the water from a gradual slope-zero depth
area such as a shoreline or wave pool:
1. hold the rescue tube and excess line above the water, lift your knees high while
running to avoid falling
2. once you cant run anymore, put the tube across your chest and begin swimming;
dont dive into shallow water
front crawl approach - ANS with the rescue tube under your armpits/torso, in
control, front crawl towards the victim
breaststroke approach - ANS with the rescue tube under your armpits/torso, in
control, breaststroke towards the victim
long distance approach - ANS allow the rescue tube to trail behind you and
reposition it in front of you before contacting the victim
walking approach - ANS in shallow water, hold the tube beside you and walk
quickly, repositioning the tube before contacting the victim
simple assist - ANS used in shallow water; helping a person to stand, or
submerged victims that are within reach:
1. approach the person who needs help while keeping the rescue tube between you
and the person
2. reach across the tube and grasp the person at the armpit to help the person
maintain his or her balance: if the person is underwater grasp the person under the
armpits with both hands and help him or her stand up
3. assist the person to the exit point
reaching assist - ANS used with a distressed swimmer who is close to the side
of the pool; extend rescue tube within victim's grasp, be sure to have a sturdy stance
(or ly down) when reaching toward the victim:
1. extend the tube to teh victim, keeping your body weight on your back foot and
crouching to avoid being pulled in the water: remove the strap if you need to reach
the victim by holding the strap in one hand and the tube in the other
2. tell the victim to grab the tube
3. slowly pull the victim to safety
active victim front rescue - ANS used for a drowning victim who is facing
toward you:
1. approach the victim from the front
