YMCA LIFEGUARDING 2026 TEST PAPER QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS GUARANTEE A+
✔✔How do you relieve a cramp? - ✔✔- Stretch cramped muscle slow and steady
- Hold stretch as long as it is comfortable
- Continue to stretch muscle as long as pain is evident
✔✔How should you move your head when scanning - ✔✔Swivel head from side to side
and make a pronounced downward sweep, moving head and eyes to look directly at
each area. Stop eyes every 10 to 15 degrees.
✔✔You are the only rescuer, you begin CPR on a 20-year old victim. How many
compressions/breathes? - ✔✔30 compressions & 2 breaths
✔✔You are the only rescuer, you begin CPR on an 8-year old victim. How many
compressions/breathes? - ✔✔30 compressions & 2 breaths
✔✔You are the only rescuer, you begin CPR on a 2-year old victim. How many
compressions/breathes? - ✔✔30 compressions & 2 breaths
✔✔In the EAP, what is the role of Lifeguard #1 (lifeguard who identifies the victim,
activates the EAP, and begins the rescue)? - ✔✔- Activates the EAP
- Determines appropriate action to reach victim (nonswimming or swimming)
- Rescues victim (and, if necessary, begins rescue breathing)
- Removes victim from water
- Provides emergency care, including CPR and applying an AED if needed
- Continues emergency care and monitors AED if it is needed
- Reports incident
✔✔In the EAP, what is the role of Lifeguard #2 (lifeguard closest to incident/rescue)? -
✔✔- Takes over LG#1 and LG#3's zones
- Directs and monitors patrons
- In a major emergency, clears the pool and sends patrons to the locker rooms
- Sends additional staff to monitor locker rooms
- Secures pool area and aids LG#1 if needed
✔✔In the EAP, what is the role of Lifeguard #3 (next closest lifeguard after lifeguard
#2)? - ✔✔- Ensures EMS is called
- Allow LG#2 to take over zone and clear pool
- Activate crisis communication plan
- Meets EMS at entrance
- Brings EMS to the victim the best way possible
,✔✔In the EAP, what is the role of Lifeguard #4 (farthest from the incident)? - ✔✔- Clear
zone or have another lifeguard clear zone
- Bring/prep emergency equipment (AED, O2, first aid kit, gloves, towels, backboard)
- Help remove/position victim
- Assist LG#1, prep victim for AED
- Continue emergency care and monitor AED
✔✔What is a shepherd's crook/reaching pole used for? - ✔✔- Can be used as a means
of a rescue without having to enter the water
- Can be used to reach out to a conscious victim, loop can reach around an
unconscious victim
✔✔What is a ring buoy used for? - ✔✔- Can provide nonlifeguards a way to rescue a
distressed swimmer who is out of reach of a crook or reaching pole
- Effective only for helping a swimmer who can reach it
- You can throw it and pull them to shore
✔✔What is a throw bag used for? - ✔✔- Consists of a 75-foot rope coiled inside of a
bag
- Can reach victims at distances far beyond reach of the ring buoy
- Often used in moving water for rescues on waterfront locations
- Does not provide buoyancy
✔✔What is a rescue tube used for? - ✔✔- Most versatile of lifeguard equipment
- Can be extended to a struggling victim, tow a distressed or unresponsive victim,
support a victim during in-water rescue breathing, and support a rescuer when needed
- Made of bouyant foam
- Special ones made for the YMCA have a slot to hold a resuscitation mask
✔✔What is a rescue buoy used for? - ✔✔- Made of lightweight, hard plastic
- Hollow and very buoyant
- Has a towrope on one end
- Used for multiple victims
- Often used in waterfront and surf rescues
✔✔What is an inflatable rescue tube used for? - ✔✔- Often used when people are
camping, backpacking, canoeing, or engaging in other outdoor aquatic activites
- Takes time to blow up
✔✔What is a paddleboard used for? - ✔✔- Very buoyant
- Can quickly reach a victim in light to moderate surf
- Can be used to carry a victim back to shore
- Flat surface useful for in water rescue breathing
, ✔✔How do you perform a reaching assist out of water? - ✔✔- Lie on the pool deck to
establish a stable position
- Spread legs apart to increase stability, keeping center of gravity over base
- Extend one arm only over the water
- Grasp swimmer's wrist or upper arm
✔✔How do you perform an extension assist? - ✔✔- Establish a firm base of support
with legs spread and weight low
- Pull away from victim
- Extend rescue tube out, be prepared for a sharp tug
- Pull victim to safety
✔✔How do you perform a touch-and-go entry? - ✔✔- Look to make sure it is safe to
enter
- Keep eyes on the victim while placing one hand on the edge of the pool and holding
the rescue tube in your other hand
- Jump or step into the water, hand on the edge controls speed while other hand holds
tightly onto the rescue tube
- Once in the water, approach victim
✔✔How do you perform a compact jump entry? - ✔✔This jump should be done from an
elevated position, like an elevated lifeguard stand, into water that is 5+ feet deep
- Hold rescue tube horizontally under your arms or against your chest
- Jump into the water with both feet parallel to the water surface and your knees bent.
Hold the excess line in your hand
- As you hit the water, bend knees slightly to absorb the shock
- Allow the rescue tube to lift you to the surface
✔✔How do you perform a stride jump entry? - ✔✔If water is 5+ feet deep and from a
height of no more than 3 feet, this jump is optimal for maintaining eye contact and
entering the water quickly
- Hold your arms out from your sides, hands slightly above your shoulders, holding the
rescue tube in one hand
- Lean forward with your chest ahead of your hips and step out away from the edge,
with legs wide apart in a giant A-shaped stride
- While over the water and clear of the edge, drop the rescue tube to the side and
behind you
- As your body enters the water, force your legs together doing a scissors kick. As arms
touch the water, bring them forward to slow your downward motion and keep your head
above water
✔✔What are the "safe in six"? - ✔✔- Prevent
- Recognize
- Activate Emergency action plan (EAP)
- Rescue
- Emergency Care
ANSWERS GUARANTEE A+
✔✔How do you relieve a cramp? - ✔✔- Stretch cramped muscle slow and steady
- Hold stretch as long as it is comfortable
- Continue to stretch muscle as long as pain is evident
✔✔How should you move your head when scanning - ✔✔Swivel head from side to side
and make a pronounced downward sweep, moving head and eyes to look directly at
each area. Stop eyes every 10 to 15 degrees.
✔✔You are the only rescuer, you begin CPR on a 20-year old victim. How many
compressions/breathes? - ✔✔30 compressions & 2 breaths
✔✔You are the only rescuer, you begin CPR on an 8-year old victim. How many
compressions/breathes? - ✔✔30 compressions & 2 breaths
✔✔You are the only rescuer, you begin CPR on a 2-year old victim. How many
compressions/breathes? - ✔✔30 compressions & 2 breaths
✔✔In the EAP, what is the role of Lifeguard #1 (lifeguard who identifies the victim,
activates the EAP, and begins the rescue)? - ✔✔- Activates the EAP
- Determines appropriate action to reach victim (nonswimming or swimming)
- Rescues victim (and, if necessary, begins rescue breathing)
- Removes victim from water
- Provides emergency care, including CPR and applying an AED if needed
- Continues emergency care and monitors AED if it is needed
- Reports incident
✔✔In the EAP, what is the role of Lifeguard #2 (lifeguard closest to incident/rescue)? -
✔✔- Takes over LG#1 and LG#3's zones
- Directs and monitors patrons
- In a major emergency, clears the pool and sends patrons to the locker rooms
- Sends additional staff to monitor locker rooms
- Secures pool area and aids LG#1 if needed
✔✔In the EAP, what is the role of Lifeguard #3 (next closest lifeguard after lifeguard
#2)? - ✔✔- Ensures EMS is called
- Allow LG#2 to take over zone and clear pool
- Activate crisis communication plan
- Meets EMS at entrance
- Brings EMS to the victim the best way possible
,✔✔In the EAP, what is the role of Lifeguard #4 (farthest from the incident)? - ✔✔- Clear
zone or have another lifeguard clear zone
- Bring/prep emergency equipment (AED, O2, first aid kit, gloves, towels, backboard)
- Help remove/position victim
- Assist LG#1, prep victim for AED
- Continue emergency care and monitor AED
✔✔What is a shepherd's crook/reaching pole used for? - ✔✔- Can be used as a means
of a rescue without having to enter the water
- Can be used to reach out to a conscious victim, loop can reach around an
unconscious victim
✔✔What is a ring buoy used for? - ✔✔- Can provide nonlifeguards a way to rescue a
distressed swimmer who is out of reach of a crook or reaching pole
- Effective only for helping a swimmer who can reach it
- You can throw it and pull them to shore
✔✔What is a throw bag used for? - ✔✔- Consists of a 75-foot rope coiled inside of a
bag
- Can reach victims at distances far beyond reach of the ring buoy
- Often used in moving water for rescues on waterfront locations
- Does not provide buoyancy
✔✔What is a rescue tube used for? - ✔✔- Most versatile of lifeguard equipment
- Can be extended to a struggling victim, tow a distressed or unresponsive victim,
support a victim during in-water rescue breathing, and support a rescuer when needed
- Made of bouyant foam
- Special ones made for the YMCA have a slot to hold a resuscitation mask
✔✔What is a rescue buoy used for? - ✔✔- Made of lightweight, hard plastic
- Hollow and very buoyant
- Has a towrope on one end
- Used for multiple victims
- Often used in waterfront and surf rescues
✔✔What is an inflatable rescue tube used for? - ✔✔- Often used when people are
camping, backpacking, canoeing, or engaging in other outdoor aquatic activites
- Takes time to blow up
✔✔What is a paddleboard used for? - ✔✔- Very buoyant
- Can quickly reach a victim in light to moderate surf
- Can be used to carry a victim back to shore
- Flat surface useful for in water rescue breathing
, ✔✔How do you perform a reaching assist out of water? - ✔✔- Lie on the pool deck to
establish a stable position
- Spread legs apart to increase stability, keeping center of gravity over base
- Extend one arm only over the water
- Grasp swimmer's wrist or upper arm
✔✔How do you perform an extension assist? - ✔✔- Establish a firm base of support
with legs spread and weight low
- Pull away from victim
- Extend rescue tube out, be prepared for a sharp tug
- Pull victim to safety
✔✔How do you perform a touch-and-go entry? - ✔✔- Look to make sure it is safe to
enter
- Keep eyes on the victim while placing one hand on the edge of the pool and holding
the rescue tube in your other hand
- Jump or step into the water, hand on the edge controls speed while other hand holds
tightly onto the rescue tube
- Once in the water, approach victim
✔✔How do you perform a compact jump entry? - ✔✔This jump should be done from an
elevated position, like an elevated lifeguard stand, into water that is 5+ feet deep
- Hold rescue tube horizontally under your arms or against your chest
- Jump into the water with both feet parallel to the water surface and your knees bent.
Hold the excess line in your hand
- As you hit the water, bend knees slightly to absorb the shock
- Allow the rescue tube to lift you to the surface
✔✔How do you perform a stride jump entry? - ✔✔If water is 5+ feet deep and from a
height of no more than 3 feet, this jump is optimal for maintaining eye contact and
entering the water quickly
- Hold your arms out from your sides, hands slightly above your shoulders, holding the
rescue tube in one hand
- Lean forward with your chest ahead of your hips and step out away from the edge,
with legs wide apart in a giant A-shaped stride
- While over the water and clear of the edge, drop the rescue tube to the side and
behind you
- As your body enters the water, force your legs together doing a scissors kick. As arms
touch the water, bring them forward to slow your downward motion and keep your head
above water
✔✔What are the "safe in six"? - ✔✔- Prevent
- Recognize
- Activate Emergency action plan (EAP)
- Rescue
- Emergency Care
