American Red Cross: Lifeguarding Exam
2026 Questions and Answers
What will American Red Cross Lifeguarding class teach you? (pg. 2) - Correct
answer-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) - Correct answer-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) - Correct answer-test pool water
chemistry, assisting patrons, cleaning/maintenance of pool area, completing
records and reports
(pg. 4) Professional Lifeguards SHOULD NOT - Correct answer-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
©COPYRIGHT 2025, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 1
,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) - Correct answer-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) - Correct answer-Emergency Action Plan
Duty to Act (pg. 6) - Correct answer-While on the job, you have legal
responsibility to act in an emergency
Negligence (pg. 6) - Correct answer-When a person receiving emergency care has
additional harm because lifeguards failed to follow the standard of care
Consent (pg. 6) - Correct answer-All people giving medical care MUST obtain
consent before helping an individual
Rescue Tube (pg. 13) - Correct answer-45-54 inch vinyl, foam-filled tube with an
attached tow line and shoulder strap capable of keeping victims afloat
©COPYRIGHT 2025, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 2
,Resuscitation Masks (pg. 13) - Correct answer-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) - Correct answer-Disposable (single-use) gloves are used to protect
employees that may be exposed to blood or other bodily fluids.
Backboards (pg. 13) - Correct answer-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) - Correct answer-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) - Correct answer-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) - Correct answer-Breathing device
used to administer emergency oxygen to a victim experiencing breathing or cardiac
emergency
©COPYRIGHT 2025, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 3
, AED (pg. 14) - Correct answer-Automated External Defibrillators: portable
electronic device that analyzes a victims heart rhythm and delivers electrical shock
to re-establich proper rhythm.
RWI (pg. 24) - Correct answer-Recreational Water Illness: earaches, rashes,
diarrhea that can cause illness in aquatics facility
Formed Stool Emergency (pg. 24) - Correct answer-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) - Correct answer-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
©COPYRIGHT 2025, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 4
2026 Questions and Answers
What will American Red Cross Lifeguarding class teach you? (pg. 2) - Correct
answer-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) - Correct answer-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) - Correct answer-test pool water
chemistry, assisting patrons, cleaning/maintenance of pool area, completing
records and reports
(pg. 4) Professional Lifeguards SHOULD NOT - Correct answer-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
©COPYRIGHT 2025, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 1
,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) - Correct answer-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) - Correct answer-Emergency Action Plan
Duty to Act (pg. 6) - Correct answer-While on the job, you have legal
responsibility to act in an emergency
Negligence (pg. 6) - Correct answer-When a person receiving emergency care has
additional harm because lifeguards failed to follow the standard of care
Consent (pg. 6) - Correct answer-All people giving medical care MUST obtain
consent before helping an individual
Rescue Tube (pg. 13) - Correct answer-45-54 inch vinyl, foam-filled tube with an
attached tow line and shoulder strap capable of keeping victims afloat
©COPYRIGHT 2025, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 2
,Resuscitation Masks (pg. 13) - Correct answer-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) - Correct answer-Disposable (single-use) gloves are used to protect
employees that may be exposed to blood or other bodily fluids.
Backboards (pg. 13) - Correct answer-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) - Correct answer-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) - Correct answer-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) - Correct answer-Breathing device
used to administer emergency oxygen to a victim experiencing breathing or cardiac
emergency
©COPYRIGHT 2025, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 3
, AED (pg. 14) - Correct answer-Automated External Defibrillators: portable
electronic device that analyzes a victims heart rhythm and delivers electrical shock
to re-establich proper rhythm.
RWI (pg. 24) - Correct answer-Recreational Water Illness: earaches, rashes,
diarrhea that can cause illness in aquatics facility
Formed Stool Emergency (pg. 24) - Correct answer-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) - Correct answer-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
©COPYRIGHT 2025, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 4
