RED CROSS LIFEGUARDING MULTIPLE CHOICE
50 COMPLETE STUDY GUIDE 2026
◉ Provide three examples of how lifeguards fulfill their primary
responsibility. Answer: Monitoring activities in and near the water
through patron surveillance, Administering first aid, CPR, and AED,
and Working as a team with other lifeguards, facility staff, and
management
◉ List five examples of secondary responsibilities that should never
interfere with patron surveillance. Answer: Testing pool water
chemistry, Assist patrons by performing safety orientations,
administrating swim tests, fitting life jackets, and other duties,
Cleaning or performing maintenance, Completing records and
reports, and Performing opening duties, closing duties, or facility
safety checks and inspections
◉ List five characteristics of a professional lifeguard. Answer:
Knowledgeable and skilled, Reliable, Mature, Courteous and
consistent, and Positive
◉ Lifeguards should always do what? Answer: Be attentive and sit or
stand upright when on surveillance duty
,◉ 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? Answer: Negligence
◉ List the five steps that a lifeguard should take when obtaining
consent from an injured or ill person before providing first aid or
emergency care. Answer: State your name, State your level of
training, Ask if you may help, Explain that you would like to assess
them to find out what you think may be wrong or what you can do to
help
◉ What is the validity period of an American Red Cross Lifeguarding
certification? Answer: Two years
◉ How does an American Red Cross certified lifeguard get
recertified? Answer: Going through the Lifeguard class or course
again
◉ Why is it important to attend a pre-season orientation and
training? Answer: To ensure that lifeguards understand their
responsibilities and know how to perform their job, To ensure that
lifeguards get practice with their facility's safety and rescue
equipment and emergency action plans, and To ensure lifeguards
understand codes, rules, and regulations of the facility
◉ What does EAP stand for? Answer: Emergency Action Plan
, ◉ Why is it important for lifeguards and other team members to
understand and practice the EAP? Answer: So everyone knows their
responsibilities and can perform them effectively
◉ What is the best practice for the frequency of in-service training
participation at well-managed aquatic facilities? Answer: At least
four hours of in-service training each month
◉ What are four topics that could be a discussed during in-service
training? Answer: Surveillance and recognition, Water and land
rescue skills, Emergency response drills, and Decision-making
protocols (or Facility rules and regulations, Customer service,
Records and reports, and Physical conditioning)
◉ What are the benefits of regular, frequent in-service training?
Answer: Helps you maintain your knowledge and skills at a
professional level, gives you a chance to practice with other
lifeguards at your facility, and it will help you to efficiently respond
as a team in an emergency
◉ In a water park setting, what additional items might be included
in a safety checklist? Answer: Inspecting and test run of rides and
slides, Checking that rafts, tubes, and/or sleds are properly inflated
and the handles are secure, Landing areas are free of rough surfaces
50 COMPLETE STUDY GUIDE 2026
◉ Provide three examples of how lifeguards fulfill their primary
responsibility. Answer: Monitoring activities in and near the water
through patron surveillance, Administering first aid, CPR, and AED,
and Working as a team with other lifeguards, facility staff, and
management
◉ List five examples of secondary responsibilities that should never
interfere with patron surveillance. Answer: Testing pool water
chemistry, Assist patrons by performing safety orientations,
administrating swim tests, fitting life jackets, and other duties,
Cleaning or performing maintenance, Completing records and
reports, and Performing opening duties, closing duties, or facility
safety checks and inspections
◉ List five characteristics of a professional lifeguard. Answer:
Knowledgeable and skilled, Reliable, Mature, Courteous and
consistent, and Positive
◉ Lifeguards should always do what? Answer: Be attentive and sit or
stand upright when on surveillance duty
,◉ 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? Answer: Negligence
◉ List the five steps that a lifeguard should take when obtaining
consent from an injured or ill person before providing first aid or
emergency care. Answer: State your name, State your level of
training, Ask if you may help, Explain that you would like to assess
them to find out what you think may be wrong or what you can do to
help
◉ What is the validity period of an American Red Cross Lifeguarding
certification? Answer: Two years
◉ How does an American Red Cross certified lifeguard get
recertified? Answer: Going through the Lifeguard class or course
again
◉ Why is it important to attend a pre-season orientation and
training? Answer: To ensure that lifeguards understand their
responsibilities and know how to perform their job, To ensure that
lifeguards get practice with their facility's safety and rescue
equipment and emergency action plans, and To ensure lifeguards
understand codes, rules, and regulations of the facility
◉ What does EAP stand for? Answer: Emergency Action Plan
, ◉ Why is it important for lifeguards and other team members to
understand and practice the EAP? Answer: So everyone knows their
responsibilities and can perform them effectively
◉ What is the best practice for the frequency of in-service training
participation at well-managed aquatic facilities? Answer: At least
four hours of in-service training each month
◉ What are four topics that could be a discussed during in-service
training? Answer: Surveillance and recognition, Water and land
rescue skills, Emergency response drills, and Decision-making
protocols (or Facility rules and regulations, Customer service,
Records and reports, and Physical conditioning)
◉ What are the benefits of regular, frequent in-service training?
Answer: Helps you maintain your knowledge and skills at a
professional level, gives you a chance to practice with other
lifeguards at your facility, and it will help you to efficiently respond
as a team in an emergency
◉ In a water park setting, what additional items might be included
in a safety checklist? Answer: Inspecting and test run of rides and
slides, Checking that rafts, tubes, and/or sleds are properly inflated
and the handles are secure, Landing areas are free of rough surfaces
