Questions 2025 | Full Verified Guide | A+ Rated
What is the primary responsibility of a lifeguard? - To prevent drowning and other
injuries from occurring at their aquatic facility
Examples of fulfilling primary responsibilities - - Monitoring activities in and near the
water through patron surveillance
- Preventing injuries by minimizing or eliminating hazardous behaviors
- Enforcing facility rules and regulations and educating patrons about them
- Recognizing and responding quickly and effectively to all emergencies
- Administering first aid and CPR, including using an ARD and, of trained, administering
emergency oxygen when needed
- Working as a team with other lifeguards, facility staff, and management
Examples of secondary responsibilities that should never interfere with patron surveillance -
- Testing the pool water chemistry
- Assist patrons by performing safety orientations, administering swim tests, fitting life jackets,
and other duties
- Cleaning or performing maintenance
- Completing records and reports
- Performing opening duties, closing duties, or facility safety checks and inspections
Characteristics of a professional lifeguard - - Knowledgeable and skilled
- Reliable
- Mature
- Courteous and consistent
- Positive
- Professional
- Healthy and fit (exercise, eat/hydrate properly, rest adequately, protect yourself from sun
exposure)
,Legal considerations - 1. Duty to Act
2. Standard of Care
3. Negligence
4. Abandonment
5. Confidentiality
6. Documentation
7. Consent
8. Refusal of care
How to obtain consent - 1. Name
2. Level of training
3. Ask if you may help
4. Explain that you would like to assess them to find out what you think may be wrong or what
you can do to help
5. Explain what you plan to do
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 get practice
with their facility's safety and rescue equipment and EAP, to ensure lifeguards understand
codes, rules, and regulations of the facility
1. EAP
2. Why is it important for lifeguards and other team members to understand and practice the
EAP? - 1. Emergency Action Plan
2. You will learn how staff members work together in a variety of circumstances, gives
teammates a chance to work on different responder roles together, so everyone knows their
responsibilities and can perform them effectively
In-service training - Takes place while you are employed as a lifeguard and is designed to
help you maintain your knowledge and skills at a professional level. It also gives you a chance to
practice with other lifeguards at your facility and help you efficiently respond as a team in an
emergency
, What is the best practice for the frequency of in-service training participation at well-managed
aquatic facilities? - At least 4 hours of in-service training each month
Topics that could be discussed during in-service training - Surveillance, recognition, water
and land rescue skills, emergency response drills, decision-making protocols, facility rules and
regulations, customer service, records and reports and physical conditioning
Rescue tubes - 45- to 54-inch vinyl, foam-filled tube with an attached tow line and
shoulder strap. Is capable of keeping multiple victims afloat
Resuscitation Masks - Transparent, flexible device that creates a tight seal over the
victim's mouth and nose to allow you to breathe air into a victim without making mouth to
mouth contact. All masks should have a one-way valve for releasing exhaled air. Some masks
also have an inlet for administering emergency oxygen, and come in different sizes to ensure a
proper fit and tight seal
Gloves - Disposable (single-use) gloves are used to protect employees that may be
exposed to blood and other potentially infectious material (OPIM). Gloves should be made of
non-latex materials, such as nitrate. Gloves should also be powder free.
Whistle - Important signaling devices for lifeguards, used to activate the EAP, and get
attention of other members of the safety team and patrons. Should be loud, made of material
that will not rust, and have breakaway lanyards
Backboard - Standard piece of equipment to remove victims from the water when they
are unable to exit the water on their own or when they have a possible injury to the head, neck,
or spine. Some have runners on the bottom that allowed the board to slide easily onto a deck or
pier. Must have straps to secure a victim in cases of head, neck, or spinal injury, in addition to a
device for immobilizing the head
Rescue buoy - Rescue can/torpedo buoy, primary piece of rescue equipment for
waterfronts and surf beaches. Made of lightweight, hard, buoyant plastic and vary in length
from 25 to 34 inches. Molded handgrips along the sides and rear of the buoy allow the victim to
keep a firm hold on the buoy, and are buoyant enough to support multiple victims
PPE - Personal protective equipment- specialized clothing, equipment, and supplies used
to prevent you from coming into direct contact with a victim's bodily fluids. Gloves,
resuscitation masks, gowns, masks, shields, protective eyewear, and a blood spill kit.
BVM - Bag valve mask resuscitator- Hand held device attached to a resuscitation mask
that is used to ventilate a victim in respiratory arrest or when performing CPR. Appropriate sized