American Red Cross Lifeguarding
Final Written Exam
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? - ANS
Negligence
A lifeguard on duty should be able to recognize and reach a drowning victim within
how much time? - ANS 30 seconds
A victim in the water is not breathing. - ANS Always remove a victim who is not
breathing from the water as soon as possible to provide care. However, if doing so
will delay care, then perform in-water ventilations until you can remove the victim.
After an emergency has been resolved, there are still three important tasks to
complete. Explain each task. - ANS Report: complete an incident report form
Advise: advise the victim on next steps (ex. go to doctor)
Release: release the victim to the appropriate parties (ex: child to their parent)
An EAP for a missing person includes quickly checking if the person is in the water.
Checking for a submerged victim is most difficult for which area? - ANS
Underneath play structures at a waterfront with murky water
As a lifeguard you are responsible for consistently enforcing what? - ANS Your
facility's rules and regulations
At waterfront facilities using swim tests for group visits, areas for nonswimmers
should: - ANS Be separated from the swimmer area with a continuous barrier,
such as a pier or buoyed lifeline.
Backboards are a standard piece of rescue equipment used at aquatic facilities for
immobilizing and removing the victim from the water. Backboards work best when
they are equipped with: - ANS 1) A chest strap to secure the victim to the
board
2) A head-immobilizer device that can be attached to the top, or head-end, of the
board
, Describe four ways that additional lifeguards can help during spinal backboarding
and extrication from the water. - ANS 1) Helping to submerge, position, and
stabilize the backboard on deck
2) Communicating with and reassuring the victim
3) Guiding the backboard as it is being removed from the water
4) Providing care after the victim has been removed from the water
Describe the actions of the additional safety team members listed below during a
rescue where the victim is unresponsive and requires additional emergency care. -
ANS Other lifeguards:
1) The water or land rescue and providing emergency care
2) Back-up zone coverage or clearing the area
Additional safety team members:
(Front desk staff, maintenance staff or others as designated by the EAP)
1) Summoning EMS personnel
2) Bringing additional equipment, if necessary
3) Clearing the area or facility
4) Controlling the crowd
5) Meeting EMS personnel
During rotation, both lifeguards must ensure there is no lapse in patron surveillance,
even for a brief moment. To ensure this, what should each lifeguard do? - ANS
The incoming lifeguard should search the zone and be aware of the activity level in
the zone you will be guarding. Begin searching your zone as
you are walking toward your station, checking all areas of the water from the
bottom to the surface
The outgoing lifeguard should inform you of any situations that need special
attention. The exchange of information should be brief, and patron surveillance must
be maintained throughout the entire rotation
Explain what it means to be "equipped and rescue-ready." - ANS You are
wearing or carrying the appropriate rescue equipment for your facility and ready to
enter the water to perform a rescue
Fill in the blank: ________________________________________ , which can be
described as rapid, deep breathing, is a dangerous technique used by some
swimmers to try to swim long distances underwater or to hold their breath for an
extended period while submerged in one place. If you see these dangerous
activities, you must intervene. - ANS Voluntary hyperventilation
Final Written Exam
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? - ANS
Negligence
A lifeguard on duty should be able to recognize and reach a drowning victim within
how much time? - ANS 30 seconds
A victim in the water is not breathing. - ANS Always remove a victim who is not
breathing from the water as soon as possible to provide care. However, if doing so
will delay care, then perform in-water ventilations until you can remove the victim.
After an emergency has been resolved, there are still three important tasks to
complete. Explain each task. - ANS Report: complete an incident report form
Advise: advise the victim on next steps (ex. go to doctor)
Release: release the victim to the appropriate parties (ex: child to their parent)
An EAP for a missing person includes quickly checking if the person is in the water.
Checking for a submerged victim is most difficult for which area? - ANS
Underneath play structures at a waterfront with murky water
As a lifeguard you are responsible for consistently enforcing what? - ANS Your
facility's rules and regulations
At waterfront facilities using swim tests for group visits, areas for nonswimmers
should: - ANS Be separated from the swimmer area with a continuous barrier,
such as a pier or buoyed lifeline.
Backboards are a standard piece of rescue equipment used at aquatic facilities for
immobilizing and removing the victim from the water. Backboards work best when
they are equipped with: - ANS 1) A chest strap to secure the victim to the
board
2) A head-immobilizer device that can be attached to the top, or head-end, of the
board
, Describe four ways that additional lifeguards can help during spinal backboarding
and extrication from the water. - ANS 1) Helping to submerge, position, and
stabilize the backboard on deck
2) Communicating with and reassuring the victim
3) Guiding the backboard as it is being removed from the water
4) Providing care after the victim has been removed from the water
Describe the actions of the additional safety team members listed below during a
rescue where the victim is unresponsive and requires additional emergency care. -
ANS Other lifeguards:
1) The water or land rescue and providing emergency care
2) Back-up zone coverage or clearing the area
Additional safety team members:
(Front desk staff, maintenance staff or others as designated by the EAP)
1) Summoning EMS personnel
2) Bringing additional equipment, if necessary
3) Clearing the area or facility
4) Controlling the crowd
5) Meeting EMS personnel
During rotation, both lifeguards must ensure there is no lapse in patron surveillance,
even for a brief moment. To ensure this, what should each lifeguard do? - ANS
The incoming lifeguard should search the zone and be aware of the activity level in
the zone you will be guarding. Begin searching your zone as
you are walking toward your station, checking all areas of the water from the
bottom to the surface
The outgoing lifeguard should inform you of any situations that need special
attention. The exchange of information should be brief, and patron surveillance must
be maintained throughout the entire rotation
Explain what it means to be "equipped and rescue-ready." - ANS You are
wearing or carrying the appropriate rescue equipment for your facility and ready to
enter the water to perform a rescue
Fill in the blank: ________________________________________ , which can be
described as rapid, deep breathing, is a dangerous technique used by some
swimmers to try to swim long distances underwater or to hold their breath for an
extended period while submerged in one place. If you see these dangerous
activities, you must intervene. - ANS Voluntary hyperventilation
