American Red Cross Lifeguarding
Final Written Exam Q&A
What is the primary responsibility of a lifeguard? Correct Ans - to
prevent drowning and other injuries from occurring at your aquatic facility.
Provide three examples of how lifeguards fulfill their primary responsibility
Correct Ans - monitoring activities in and near the water through patron
servaliance, preventing injuries by minimizing or eliminating hazardous
situations or behaviors, enforcing facility rules and regulations and educating
patrons about them, recognizing and responding quickly and effectively to all
the emergencies, administering first air and CPR including using an automated
external defibrillator (AED) and if trained, administering emergency oxygen
when needed, working as a team with other lifeguards, faculty, and staff
management.
list 5 examples of secondary responsibilities (other tasks) that should never
interfere with patron serveillance Correct Ans - 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.
list 5 characteristics of a professional lifeguard Correct Ans -
knowledgable and skilled, reliable, mature, courteous and consistent, positive,
professional, healthy and fit
lifeguards should: Correct Ans - always 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? Correct Ans - negligence
list the 5 steps that a lifeguard should take when obtaining consent from an
injured or ill person before providing first air or emergency care Correct
,Ans - 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, explain what you plan to do.
what is the validity of an American Red Cross lifeguarding certification? how
does an American Red Cross certified lifeguard get recertified? Correct
Ans - (2 years.) annual certification training.
why is it important to attend a pre-season orientation and training
Correct Ans - to ensure lifeguards understand their responsibilities and
know how to perform their job, to ensure that they get practice with their
facilities safety and rescue equipment and emergency action plans, to ensure
they understand codes, rules and regulations of their facility.
what does EAP stand for Correct Ans - emergency action plan
why is it important for lifeguards and other team members to understand and
practice the EAP Correct Ans - to know what role you'll play, to know
how you all work as a team
what is the best practice for the frequency of in-service training participation
at well-managed aquatic facilities Correct Ans - at least. hours of in
service training each month
what are the benefits of regular, frequent in-service training Correct Ans -
gives you a chance to maintain your knowledge and skills at a professional
level and practice with the lifeguards at your facility.
list. topics that could be a discussed during in-service training Correct Ans
- surveillance and recognition, water and land rescue skills, emergency
response drills, decision making protocols, facility rules and regulations,
customer service, records and reports and physical conditioning.
what items are considered to be personal protective equipment for a lifeguard
Correct Ans - resuscitation mask and gloves. (may also include gowns,
masks, shields, protective eyewear)
what equipment should be worn or carried by a lifeguard at all times while on
duty? list at least two and include the reasons why this equipment should be
, worn or carried Correct Ans - rescue tube (keeping people afloat),
resuscitation mask (one way mouth to mouth contact for oxygen) and gloves
(protect yourself from infectious materials). (whistle: to signal other
lifeguards)
what safety equipment/items should be easily accessible for a lifeguard while
on duty? list at least two and describe how/when each item is used
Correct Ans - back boards (to remove victims from the water when they
are unable to exit on their own), rescue buoy (to throw to a person to keep
them afloat), other personal protective equipment (PPE), other resuscitation
equipment, an automated external defibrillator (AED), first aid supplies and
rescue boards.
as a lifeguard you are responsible for? Correct Ans - consistently
enforcing your facilities rules and regulations
list 5 common rules and regulations often posted at an aquatic facility
Correct Ans - swim only when a lifeguard is on duty, swim diapers are
required for small children or people with incontience, no swimming with
open or infected wounds, obey lifeguard instructions at all times, no
hyperventilating before swimming, underwater or breath holding contests, no
sitting of playing near or with drains or suction fittings, dive only in
designated areas, no glass containers in the pool area and locker rooms, no
alcoholic beverages or drugs allowed.
explain what it means to be equipped and rescue ready Correct Ans -
having like the proper things on you and being alert (not doing other things)
list each type of swimmers in distress or growing victims with three
observable characteristics for each Correct Ans - PAGE 63
DISTRESSED SWIMMER: above the water, trying to support self by holding or
clinging to a lane, line, expression for concern for personal safety, is breathing,
floating, sculling or treading water, might wave for help, horizontal, vertical,
or diagonal, little or no forward moving progress, less and less able to support
self, able to call for help but might not do so, at the surface of water.
Final Written Exam Q&A
What is the primary responsibility of a lifeguard? Correct Ans - to
prevent drowning and other injuries from occurring at your aquatic facility.
Provide three examples of how lifeguards fulfill their primary responsibility
Correct Ans - monitoring activities in and near the water through patron
servaliance, preventing injuries by minimizing or eliminating hazardous
situations or behaviors, enforcing facility rules and regulations and educating
patrons about them, recognizing and responding quickly and effectively to all
the emergencies, administering first air and CPR including using an automated
external defibrillator (AED) and if trained, administering emergency oxygen
when needed, working as a team with other lifeguards, faculty, and staff
management.
list 5 examples of secondary responsibilities (other tasks) that should never
interfere with patron serveillance Correct Ans - 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.
list 5 characteristics of a professional lifeguard Correct Ans -
knowledgable and skilled, reliable, mature, courteous and consistent, positive,
professional, healthy and fit
lifeguards should: Correct Ans - always 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? Correct Ans - negligence
list the 5 steps that a lifeguard should take when obtaining consent from an
injured or ill person before providing first air or emergency care Correct
,Ans - 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, explain what you plan to do.
what is the validity of an American Red Cross lifeguarding certification? how
does an American Red Cross certified lifeguard get recertified? Correct
Ans - (2 years.) annual certification training.
why is it important to attend a pre-season orientation and training
Correct Ans - to ensure lifeguards understand their responsibilities and
know how to perform their job, to ensure that they get practice with their
facilities safety and rescue equipment and emergency action plans, to ensure
they understand codes, rules and regulations of their facility.
what does EAP stand for Correct Ans - emergency action plan
why is it important for lifeguards and other team members to understand and
practice the EAP Correct Ans - to know what role you'll play, to know
how you all work as a team
what is the best practice for the frequency of in-service training participation
at well-managed aquatic facilities Correct Ans - at least. hours of in
service training each month
what are the benefits of regular, frequent in-service training Correct Ans -
gives you a chance to maintain your knowledge and skills at a professional
level and practice with the lifeguards at your facility.
list. topics that could be a discussed during in-service training Correct Ans
- surveillance and recognition, water and land rescue skills, emergency
response drills, decision making protocols, facility rules and regulations,
customer service, records and reports and physical conditioning.
what items are considered to be personal protective equipment for a lifeguard
Correct Ans - resuscitation mask and gloves. (may also include gowns,
masks, shields, protective eyewear)
what equipment should be worn or carried by a lifeguard at all times while on
duty? list at least two and include the reasons why this equipment should be
, worn or carried Correct Ans - rescue tube (keeping people afloat),
resuscitation mask (one way mouth to mouth contact for oxygen) and gloves
(protect yourself from infectious materials). (whistle: to signal other
lifeguards)
what safety equipment/items should be easily accessible for a lifeguard while
on duty? list at least two and describe how/when each item is used
Correct Ans - back boards (to remove victims from the water when they
are unable to exit on their own), rescue buoy (to throw to a person to keep
them afloat), other personal protective equipment (PPE), other resuscitation
equipment, an automated external defibrillator (AED), first aid supplies and
rescue boards.
as a lifeguard you are responsible for? Correct Ans - consistently
enforcing your facilities rules and regulations
list 5 common rules and regulations often posted at an aquatic facility
Correct Ans - swim only when a lifeguard is on duty, swim diapers are
required for small children or people with incontience, no swimming with
open or infected wounds, obey lifeguard instructions at all times, no
hyperventilating before swimming, underwater or breath holding contests, no
sitting of playing near or with drains or suction fittings, dive only in
designated areas, no glass containers in the pool area and locker rooms, no
alcoholic beverages or drugs allowed.
explain what it means to be equipped and rescue ready Correct Ans -
having like the proper things on you and being alert (not doing other things)
list each type of swimmers in distress or growing victims with three
observable characteristics for each Correct Ans - PAGE 63
DISTRESSED SWIMMER: above the water, trying to support self by holding or
clinging to a lane, line, expression for concern for personal safety, is breathing,
floating, sculling or treading water, might wave for help, horizontal, vertical,
or diagonal, little or no forward moving progress, less and less able to support
self, able to call for help but might not do so, at the surface of water.
