YMCA LIFEGUARDING COMPREHENSIVE EXAM QUESTIONS
AND ANSWERS GUARANTEE A+
✔✔How long is Initial Apnea? - ✔✔0-3 minutes, excellent chance for normal survival
✔✔Dsypnea - ✔✔Difficult breathing, glottis being to partially relax. Body and head lower
into the water; more water is swallowed. Water starts to fill the lungs, coughing and
vomiting might occur. Victims become weaker from struggling and sinks lower into the
water
✔✔How long is Dsypnea? - ✔✔60-90 seconds
✔✔Terminal Apnea - ✔✔Victim is unconscious and stops breathing. Water is persistent
in the lungs, lack of oxygen to the brain may cause convulsions. Possible evacuation of
the bladder and/or bowels.
✔✔How long is Terminal Apnea? - ✔✔90 seconds- 3 minutes. Survival is likely but the
longer the time period, the more probable it is that permanent neurological damage
occurs.
✔✔Cardiac Arrest - ✔✔Heart ceases to function and pump blood. Eyes dilate and skin
turns blue. Without CPR, lack of oxygen will cause irreversible brain damage
✔✔How long is cardiac arrest? - ✔✔after 5 minutes, normal recovery is unlikely unless
water temperature is below 70 degrees
✔✔Different Types of Emergencies - ✔✔Medical, water, missing persons,
environmental (weather), chemical, mechanical, facility, extreme violence
✔✔What are the types of Water Exits? - ✔✔Supporting assist, One-person drag, Two-
person carry, One-or two person lift, ladder exit
✔✔What is the acronym DOTS used for and what does it mean - ✔✔What to look for,
deformities, open injuries, tenderness, and swelling
✔✔What does the acronym SAMPLE do? - ✔✔Used to ask about, signs & symptoms,
allergies, medications, past medical issues, last oral intake, events leading to the
problem
✔✔What is the checklist for Crisis Management? - ✔✔Be prepared, maintain order,
notify the chain of command, protect your facility, return t your post, learn from
experiences, and seek help when coping with trama
, ✔✔What does the Good Samaritan law do? - ✔✔It provides protection from legal
liability to a trained person, actin gin good faith while off duty, to provide emergency
medical assistance at the scene of an accident or emergency
✔✔Common causes of accidents at Waterparks - ✔✔Unsafe design, facility operations,
poor supervision, patron behavior, poor communication by management
✔✔What is lifeguard lung, and what is it caused by? - ✔✔Its a respiratory illness
associated with indoor water parks and spas, and its from poorly disinfected water
✔✔When guarding a water park, what degree of coverage should you and all your
lifeguards have? - ✔✔360 with no blind spots
✔✔When guarding a waterfront, your facility should have: - ✔✔A better communication
system (2 way radios), paddle boards, mask, snorkel, skin-diving vest, and a weight
belt, boats, and vehicles.
✔✔What are the rules for Beach Patrons? - ✔✔Swim near a lifeguard, learn to swim,
never swim alone, swim sober, leash your board, do not float where you can't swim,
wear a life jacket in the boat, protect your neck- don't dive head first
✔✔What should you do if you suspect a missing person? - ✔✔activate the EAP, alert all
staff immediately, clear the swim area, begin a search in the water. Lifeguards 2 & 3,
ask the reporting party for a description, if no one saw him/her make an announcement,
have lifeguards look in designated areas, depending on staff call his/her home
✔✔What should be on the announcement for a missing person? - ✔✔The name,
description, last location of missing swimmer, tell patrons if they know anymore to report
the infomation
✔✔What are the two types of water searches? - ✔✔Shallow water, and deep water
✔✔What are the type of search patterns? - ✔✔circular pattern, grid pattern, parallel
pattern, and diagonal pattern
✔✔When would you call DAN, the Divers Alert Network? - ✔✔Whenever there is an
emergency in open waters
✔✔What does the acronym CARE stand for? - ✔✔Cognizance, assessment, rescue,
and evacuation
✔✔Situations that can lead to a diver drowning: - ✔✔Lack of ability, being over
weighted, lack of physical fitness, malfunctioning gear, a lost buddy, a frightening
AND ANSWERS GUARANTEE A+
✔✔How long is Initial Apnea? - ✔✔0-3 minutes, excellent chance for normal survival
✔✔Dsypnea - ✔✔Difficult breathing, glottis being to partially relax. Body and head lower
into the water; more water is swallowed. Water starts to fill the lungs, coughing and
vomiting might occur. Victims become weaker from struggling and sinks lower into the
water
✔✔How long is Dsypnea? - ✔✔60-90 seconds
✔✔Terminal Apnea - ✔✔Victim is unconscious and stops breathing. Water is persistent
in the lungs, lack of oxygen to the brain may cause convulsions. Possible evacuation of
the bladder and/or bowels.
✔✔How long is Terminal Apnea? - ✔✔90 seconds- 3 minutes. Survival is likely but the
longer the time period, the more probable it is that permanent neurological damage
occurs.
✔✔Cardiac Arrest - ✔✔Heart ceases to function and pump blood. Eyes dilate and skin
turns blue. Without CPR, lack of oxygen will cause irreversible brain damage
✔✔How long is cardiac arrest? - ✔✔after 5 minutes, normal recovery is unlikely unless
water temperature is below 70 degrees
✔✔Different Types of Emergencies - ✔✔Medical, water, missing persons,
environmental (weather), chemical, mechanical, facility, extreme violence
✔✔What are the types of Water Exits? - ✔✔Supporting assist, One-person drag, Two-
person carry, One-or two person lift, ladder exit
✔✔What is the acronym DOTS used for and what does it mean - ✔✔What to look for,
deformities, open injuries, tenderness, and swelling
✔✔What does the acronym SAMPLE do? - ✔✔Used to ask about, signs & symptoms,
allergies, medications, past medical issues, last oral intake, events leading to the
problem
✔✔What is the checklist for Crisis Management? - ✔✔Be prepared, maintain order,
notify the chain of command, protect your facility, return t your post, learn from
experiences, and seek help when coping with trama
, ✔✔What does the Good Samaritan law do? - ✔✔It provides protection from legal
liability to a trained person, actin gin good faith while off duty, to provide emergency
medical assistance at the scene of an accident or emergency
✔✔Common causes of accidents at Waterparks - ✔✔Unsafe design, facility operations,
poor supervision, patron behavior, poor communication by management
✔✔What is lifeguard lung, and what is it caused by? - ✔✔Its a respiratory illness
associated with indoor water parks and spas, and its from poorly disinfected water
✔✔When guarding a water park, what degree of coverage should you and all your
lifeguards have? - ✔✔360 with no blind spots
✔✔When guarding a waterfront, your facility should have: - ✔✔A better communication
system (2 way radios), paddle boards, mask, snorkel, skin-diving vest, and a weight
belt, boats, and vehicles.
✔✔What are the rules for Beach Patrons? - ✔✔Swim near a lifeguard, learn to swim,
never swim alone, swim sober, leash your board, do not float where you can't swim,
wear a life jacket in the boat, protect your neck- don't dive head first
✔✔What should you do if you suspect a missing person? - ✔✔activate the EAP, alert all
staff immediately, clear the swim area, begin a search in the water. Lifeguards 2 & 3,
ask the reporting party for a description, if no one saw him/her make an announcement,
have lifeguards look in designated areas, depending on staff call his/her home
✔✔What should be on the announcement for a missing person? - ✔✔The name,
description, last location of missing swimmer, tell patrons if they know anymore to report
the infomation
✔✔What are the two types of water searches? - ✔✔Shallow water, and deep water
✔✔What are the type of search patterns? - ✔✔circular pattern, grid pattern, parallel
pattern, and diagonal pattern
✔✔When would you call DAN, the Divers Alert Network? - ✔✔Whenever there is an
emergency in open waters
✔✔What does the acronym CARE stand for? - ✔✔Cognizance, assessment, rescue,
and evacuation
✔✔Situations that can lead to a diver drowning: - ✔✔Lack of ability, being over
weighted, lack of physical fitness, malfunctioning gear, a lost buddy, a frightening
