American Red Cross: Lifeguarding Exam Cheatsheet
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Primary Responsibilities of Lifeguards (pg. 2) - Monitor activities in and near water,
prevent injuries by minimalizing hazardous situations, enforce facility rules, recognize and
respond quickly, administering first aid and CPR, work as a team with other facility employees
Secondary Responsibilities of Lifeguards (pg. 2-3) - test pool water chemistry, assisting
patrons, cleaning/maintenance of pool area, completing records and reports
F.I.N.D (pg. 6) - F=Figure out the problem
I= Identify possible solutions
N= Name the pros and cons for each solution.
D= Decide which solution is best, then act on it
EAP (pg. 6) - Emergency Action Plan
Duty to Act (pg. 6) - While on the job, you have legal responsibility to act in an emergency
Negligence (pg. 6) - When a person receiving emergency care has additional harm
because lifeguards failed to follow the standard of care
Consent (pg. 6) - All people giving medical care MUST obtain consent before helping an
individual
Regular In-Service - takes place while you are employed as a lifeguard, it is a practice of
many well managed facilities that lifeguards participate in a minimum of 4 hrs of in-service
training each month
Equipment that your wear or care - a rescue tube, resuscitation mask and gloves
Equipment that you can easily reach - backboards, rescue buoys, PPE, AED first aid
supplies
PPE (pg. 14) - Personal Protective Equipment: specialized clothing, equipment, and
supplies used to prevent you from coming into direct contact with a victims body fluids
BVM (pg. 14) - REQUIRES TWO RESCUERS.
, AED (pg. 14) - Automated External Defibrillators: portable electronic device that analyzes
a victims heart rhythm and delivers electrical shock to re-establich proper rhythm.
When preforming facility safety checks - report any unsafe conditions found
Lightening / Thunder in Area (pg. 25) - 1. Clear Pool / Pool Area
2. Listen / Follow National Weather Service Reports
3. Wait for 30 minutes after the last sight or sound of thunder before resuming activity
Management and Safety (pg.30) - As a lifeguard, your job is to follow and enforce your
facility's rules and regulations
Addressing Unsafe Conditions (pg. 31) - Lifeguards experiencing any unsafe conditions
should report all issues to management
MSDS (pg. 31) - Material Safety Data Sheet: list of every chemical stored at facility listing
the contents of the chemical
Patron Surveillance (pg. 33) - keeping a close watch over the people in the facility and
intervening when necessary
(pg. 34) The process of drowning begins when... - water enters the victims airway
Effective Surveillance (pg. 34) - recognition of dangerous behaviors, victim recognition,
effective scanning, zone of surveillance responsibility, lifeguard stations
Distressed Swimmer - above water, is breathing, trying to grab onto the lane line or side
of the pool
Active Drowning Victim (pg. 37) - a drowning victim who is struggling to remain at the
surface of the water (still conscious)
Passive Drowning Victim (pg. 38) - a drowning victim who is not conscious. They do not
struggle and slip under the water suddenly.
Scanning is... - a surveillance technique for watching patrons
RID Factor (pg. 44) - 1. Recognition (fail to recognize victim)
2. Intrusion (secondary duties, like maintenance, intrudes on lifeguards primary duties)
3. Distraction (distracted from surveillance)
2025/26 | Verified, Graded, and Pass Guaranteed
Primary Responsibilities of Lifeguards (pg. 2) - Monitor activities in and near water,
prevent injuries by minimalizing hazardous situations, enforce facility rules, recognize and
respond quickly, administering first aid and CPR, work as a team with other facility employees
Secondary Responsibilities of Lifeguards (pg. 2-3) - test pool water chemistry, assisting
patrons, cleaning/maintenance of pool area, completing records and reports
F.I.N.D (pg. 6) - F=Figure out the problem
I= Identify possible solutions
N= Name the pros and cons for each solution.
D= Decide which solution is best, then act on it
EAP (pg. 6) - Emergency Action Plan
Duty to Act (pg. 6) - While on the job, you have legal responsibility to act in an emergency
Negligence (pg. 6) - When a person receiving emergency care has additional harm
because lifeguards failed to follow the standard of care
Consent (pg. 6) - All people giving medical care MUST obtain consent before helping an
individual
Regular In-Service - takes place while you are employed as a lifeguard, it is a practice of
many well managed facilities that lifeguards participate in a minimum of 4 hrs of in-service
training each month
Equipment that your wear or care - a rescue tube, resuscitation mask and gloves
Equipment that you can easily reach - backboards, rescue buoys, PPE, AED first aid
supplies
PPE (pg. 14) - Personal Protective Equipment: specialized clothing, equipment, and
supplies used to prevent you from coming into direct contact with a victims body fluids
BVM (pg. 14) - REQUIRES TWO RESCUERS.
, AED (pg. 14) - Automated External Defibrillators: portable electronic device that analyzes
a victims heart rhythm and delivers electrical shock to re-establich proper rhythm.
When preforming facility safety checks - report any unsafe conditions found
Lightening / Thunder in Area (pg. 25) - 1. Clear Pool / Pool Area
2. Listen / Follow National Weather Service Reports
3. Wait for 30 minutes after the last sight or sound of thunder before resuming activity
Management and Safety (pg.30) - As a lifeguard, your job is to follow and enforce your
facility's rules and regulations
Addressing Unsafe Conditions (pg. 31) - Lifeguards experiencing any unsafe conditions
should report all issues to management
MSDS (pg. 31) - Material Safety Data Sheet: list of every chemical stored at facility listing
the contents of the chemical
Patron Surveillance (pg. 33) - keeping a close watch over the people in the facility and
intervening when necessary
(pg. 34) The process of drowning begins when... - water enters the victims airway
Effective Surveillance (pg. 34) - recognition of dangerous behaviors, victim recognition,
effective scanning, zone of surveillance responsibility, lifeguard stations
Distressed Swimmer - above water, is breathing, trying to grab onto the lane line or side
of the pool
Active Drowning Victim (pg. 37) - a drowning victim who is struggling to remain at the
surface of the water (still conscious)
Passive Drowning Victim (pg. 38) - a drowning victim who is not conscious. They do not
struggle and slip under the water suddenly.
Scanning is... - a surveillance technique for watching patrons
RID Factor (pg. 44) - 1. Recognition (fail to recognize victim)
2. Intrusion (secondary duties, like maintenance, intrudes on lifeguards primary duties)
3. Distraction (distracted from surveillance)
