American Red Cross Lifeguarding
Final Written Exam Questions and
Answers 100% Pass
What is the primary responsibility of a lifeguard? - ✔✔To prevent drowning and other
injuries from occurring at their aquatic facility
Provide three examples of how lifeguards fulfill their primary responsibility. -
✔✔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. - ✔✔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. - ✔✔Knowledgeable and skilled,
Reliable, Mature, Courteous and consistent, and Positive
Lifeguards should always do what? - ✔✔Be attentive and sit or stand upright when on
surveillance duty
© EMILY CHARLENE YEAR 2025-2026, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 1
,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? - ✔✔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. - ✔✔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? -
✔✔Two years
How does an American Red Cross certified lifeguard get recertified? - ✔✔Going
through the Lifeguard class or course again
Why is it important to attend a pre-season orientation and training? - ✔✔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? - ✔✔Emergency Action Plan
Why is it important for lifeguards and other team members to understand and practice
the EAP? - ✔✔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? - ✔✔At least four hours of in-service training each month
What are four topics that could be a discussed during in-service training? -
✔✔Surveillance and recognition, Water and land rescue skills, Emergency response
© EMILY CHARLENE YEAR 2025-2026, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 2
, 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? - ✔✔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? -
✔✔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 and debris, Water level and flow is appropriate for attraction, and Electronic
dispatch systems are tested and are operating properly
Why should water parks have signs posted at every attraction stating the water depth? -
✔✔To prevent patrons from finding themselves in water that is deeper or shallower
than they expected
What rules are typically covered at water park attractions? - ✔✔The minimum or
maximum number of people allowed on an attraction or tube at a time, The maximum
and minimum height or weight requirements for patrons using an attraction, Rules for
winding rivers, No jumping or diving into the water, No climbing on any features,
Rules for water slides, and No stacking of tubes or life jackets
What are some factors that make lifeguarding water parks different than typical pool? -
✔✔Various attractions, Ride Vehicles, Currents on attractions, Potentially larger
crowds, and Different rules and EAPs
What items are considered to be personal protective equipment for a lifeguard? -
✔✔Gowns, Shields, Resuscitation masks, Gloves, and Protective Eyewear
© EMILY CHARLENE YEAR 2025-2026, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 3
Final Written Exam Questions and
Answers 100% Pass
What is the primary responsibility of a lifeguard? - ✔✔To prevent drowning and other
injuries from occurring at their aquatic facility
Provide three examples of how lifeguards fulfill their primary responsibility. -
✔✔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. - ✔✔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. - ✔✔Knowledgeable and skilled,
Reliable, Mature, Courteous and consistent, and Positive
Lifeguards should always do what? - ✔✔Be attentive and sit or stand upright when on
surveillance duty
© EMILY CHARLENE YEAR 2025-2026, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 1
,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? - ✔✔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. - ✔✔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? -
✔✔Two years
How does an American Red Cross certified lifeguard get recertified? - ✔✔Going
through the Lifeguard class or course again
Why is it important to attend a pre-season orientation and training? - ✔✔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? - ✔✔Emergency Action Plan
Why is it important for lifeguards and other team members to understand and practice
the EAP? - ✔✔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? - ✔✔At least four hours of in-service training each month
What are four topics that could be a discussed during in-service training? -
✔✔Surveillance and recognition, Water and land rescue skills, Emergency response
© EMILY CHARLENE YEAR 2025-2026, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 2
, 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? - ✔✔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? -
✔✔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 and debris, Water level and flow is appropriate for attraction, and Electronic
dispatch systems are tested and are operating properly
Why should water parks have signs posted at every attraction stating the water depth? -
✔✔To prevent patrons from finding themselves in water that is deeper or shallower
than they expected
What rules are typically covered at water park attractions? - ✔✔The minimum or
maximum number of people allowed on an attraction or tube at a time, The maximum
and minimum height or weight requirements for patrons using an attraction, Rules for
winding rivers, No jumping or diving into the water, No climbing on any features,
Rules for water slides, and No stacking of tubes or life jackets
What are some factors that make lifeguarding water parks different than typical pool? -
✔✔Various attractions, Ride Vehicles, Currents on attractions, Potentially larger
crowds, and Different rules and EAPs
What items are considered to be personal protective equipment for a lifeguard? -
✔✔Gowns, Shields, Resuscitation masks, Gloves, and Protective Eyewear
© EMILY CHARLENE YEAR 2025-2026, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 3
