American Red Cross: Lifeguarding Updated Final
Prep 2025/26 | Correct Answers Included | A+
Score
In Line Stabilization Technique -
Manual in-line stabilization: HEAD SPLINT TECHNIQUE - Get the victim to a face up
position, minimize head and neck movement
Head Splint Technique (facing up) -
Head Splint Technique (facing down) -
Head Splint Technique (submerged victim) -
Head Splint Technique (very shallow water) -
1 Spinal Backboarding Procedure: Shallow Water - 1. First lifeguard (primary rescuer)
provides in-line stabilization until another guard arrives with backboard
2 Spinal Backboarding Procedure: Shallow Water - 2. Assisting lifeguard removes the
head immobilizer device (from board), enters water with board, and positions the board under
the water and lines the body onto the board.
3 Spinal Backboarding Procedure: Shallow Water - 3. Assisting lifeguard raises backboard
into place, the primary rescuer moves the elbow that is under the victim to the top of the
backboard while continuing to apply pressure to the victims arms as a splint
4 Spinal Backboarding Procedure: Shallow Water - 4. Once board is in place, the assisting
lifeguard stabilizes the victim by placing one hand and arm on the victims chin and chest, and
the other under the board. Primary rescuer release his or her grip on the victims arms.
5 Spinal Backboarding Procedure: Shallow Water - 5. Primary rescuer lowers victims
arms, moves behind the victims head and places the tube under the head of the backboard
6 Spinal Backboarding Procedure: Shallow Water - 6. Primary rescuer balances the
backboard on the tube with his hands stabilizing the victims head.
7 Spinal Backboarding Procedure: Shallow Water - 7. Assisting lifeguard secures victim to
backboard (minimum of three straps) Strap across chest first, the work down to hips / legs
,8 Spinal Backboarding Procedure: Shallow Water - 8. Rescuers secure victims head to the
board using head immobilizer device
1 Spinal Backboarding Procedure:
Deep Water - 1. First rescuer (primary rescuer) provides inline stabilization. Secondary
rescuer should place tube under the arms of the primary rescuer to help flotation
2 Spinal Backboarding Procedure:
Deep Water - 2. Primary rescuer moves victim to side. Assisting lifeguard places tube
under victims knees to raise legs
3 Spinal Backboarding Procedure:
Deep Water - 3. Assisting lifeguard places backboard under the victim. Primary rescuer
maintains stabilization
4 Spinal Backboarding Procedure:
Deep Water - 4. Primary rescuer moves elbows so victim is on board flat. Assisting
rescuer stabilizes victim head (one hand on chin and chest, other under back of board)
5 Spinal Backboarding Procedure:
Deep Water - 5. Primary rescuer lowers victims arms, places tube under head of
backboard, and then stabilizes the head of the victim
6 Spinal Backboarding Procedure:
Deep Water - 6. Secondary rescuer begins to strap victim in (start with chest work
towards hips) minimum of 3 straps. Remove the victim once secured to board
Removing Backboard from Water -
Backboarding Standing Victim on Land - Stabilize Head, Secure body to board, stabilize
head in device
Secondary Assessment - take a brief history and perform a quick head-to-toe physical
exam
Caring for Sudden Illness - 1. Care for any life-threatening conditions first
2. Monitor victim and watch for changes in LOC
3. Keep victim comfortable and be reassuring
, 4. Do not give the victim anything to eat or drink
Hypoglycemia - Low Blood Sugar (Diabetic Emergencies)
When someone has a seizure... - 1. protect the person from injury by moving nearby
objects away from the person
2. position the person on his/her size
Contact EMS during seizure if... - 1. seizure occurs in water
2. seizure lasts 5+ minutes
3. person has repeated seizure
4. person is pregnant
5. cause of seizure unknown
6. person fails to regain consciousness after seizure
7. this is the persons first seizure
Seizure in Water - Keep victim stable and their head above water
Abrasion - Skin has been rubbed or scraped away
Laceration - Cuts that is deep and bleeds freely
Avulsion - a cut in which a piece of soft tissue or even part of the body such as a finger is
torn off
Puncture - a hole that is in tissue; typically does not bleed profusely.
Caring for Nosebleeds - 1. Have victim lean forward slightly while pinching nose
2. Pinch nostrils for approximately 10 minutes
3. Avoid blowfly or picking nose
4. Contact EMS if nosebleed is excessive or victim changes LOC
Caring for Eye Injuries - 1. Summon EMS *DO NOT PUT PRESSURE DIRECTLY ONTO EYE*
2. Do Not Remove object from eye (if inserted)
3. Loosely bandage area
Embedded Objects - 1. Summon EMS
Prep 2025/26 | Correct Answers Included | A+
Score
In Line Stabilization Technique -
Manual in-line stabilization: HEAD SPLINT TECHNIQUE - Get the victim to a face up
position, minimize head and neck movement
Head Splint Technique (facing up) -
Head Splint Technique (facing down) -
Head Splint Technique (submerged victim) -
Head Splint Technique (very shallow water) -
1 Spinal Backboarding Procedure: Shallow Water - 1. First lifeguard (primary rescuer)
provides in-line stabilization until another guard arrives with backboard
2 Spinal Backboarding Procedure: Shallow Water - 2. Assisting lifeguard removes the
head immobilizer device (from board), enters water with board, and positions the board under
the water and lines the body onto the board.
3 Spinal Backboarding Procedure: Shallow Water - 3. Assisting lifeguard raises backboard
into place, the primary rescuer moves the elbow that is under the victim to the top of the
backboard while continuing to apply pressure to the victims arms as a splint
4 Spinal Backboarding Procedure: Shallow Water - 4. Once board is in place, the assisting
lifeguard stabilizes the victim by placing one hand and arm on the victims chin and chest, and
the other under the board. Primary rescuer release his or her grip on the victims arms.
5 Spinal Backboarding Procedure: Shallow Water - 5. Primary rescuer lowers victims
arms, moves behind the victims head and places the tube under the head of the backboard
6 Spinal Backboarding Procedure: Shallow Water - 6. Primary rescuer balances the
backboard on the tube with his hands stabilizing the victims head.
7 Spinal Backboarding Procedure: Shallow Water - 7. Assisting lifeguard secures victim to
backboard (minimum of three straps) Strap across chest first, the work down to hips / legs
,8 Spinal Backboarding Procedure: Shallow Water - 8. Rescuers secure victims head to the
board using head immobilizer device
1 Spinal Backboarding Procedure:
Deep Water - 1. First rescuer (primary rescuer) provides inline stabilization. Secondary
rescuer should place tube under the arms of the primary rescuer to help flotation
2 Spinal Backboarding Procedure:
Deep Water - 2. Primary rescuer moves victim to side. Assisting lifeguard places tube
under victims knees to raise legs
3 Spinal Backboarding Procedure:
Deep Water - 3. Assisting lifeguard places backboard under the victim. Primary rescuer
maintains stabilization
4 Spinal Backboarding Procedure:
Deep Water - 4. Primary rescuer moves elbows so victim is on board flat. Assisting
rescuer stabilizes victim head (one hand on chin and chest, other under back of board)
5 Spinal Backboarding Procedure:
Deep Water - 5. Primary rescuer lowers victims arms, places tube under head of
backboard, and then stabilizes the head of the victim
6 Spinal Backboarding Procedure:
Deep Water - 6. Secondary rescuer begins to strap victim in (start with chest work
towards hips) minimum of 3 straps. Remove the victim once secured to board
Removing Backboard from Water -
Backboarding Standing Victim on Land - Stabilize Head, Secure body to board, stabilize
head in device
Secondary Assessment - take a brief history and perform a quick head-to-toe physical
exam
Caring for Sudden Illness - 1. Care for any life-threatening conditions first
2. Monitor victim and watch for changes in LOC
3. Keep victim comfortable and be reassuring
, 4. Do not give the victim anything to eat or drink
Hypoglycemia - Low Blood Sugar (Diabetic Emergencies)
When someone has a seizure... - 1. protect the person from injury by moving nearby
objects away from the person
2. position the person on his/her size
Contact EMS during seizure if... - 1. seizure occurs in water
2. seizure lasts 5+ minutes
3. person has repeated seizure
4. person is pregnant
5. cause of seizure unknown
6. person fails to regain consciousness after seizure
7. this is the persons first seizure
Seizure in Water - Keep victim stable and their head above water
Abrasion - Skin has been rubbed or scraped away
Laceration - Cuts that is deep and bleeds freely
Avulsion - a cut in which a piece of soft tissue or even part of the body such as a finger is
torn off
Puncture - a hole that is in tissue; typically does not bleed profusely.
Caring for Nosebleeds - 1. Have victim lean forward slightly while pinching nose
2. Pinch nostrils for approximately 10 minutes
3. Avoid blowfly or picking nose
4. Contact EMS if nosebleed is excessive or victim changes LOC
Caring for Eye Injuries - 1. Summon EMS *DO NOT PUT PRESSURE DIRECTLY ONTO EYE*
2. Do Not Remove object from eye (if inserted)
3. Loosely bandage area
Embedded Objects - 1. Summon EMS
