AMERICAN RED CROSS
LIFEGUARDING WRITTEN EXAM
QUESTIONS & DETAILED PASSED
ANSWERS
What is the primary responsibility of a lifeguard? - CORRECT ANSWER to prevent
drowning and other injuries from occurring at your aquatic facility.
Provide three examples of how lifeguards fulfill their primary responsibility - CORRECT
ANSWER monitoring activities in and near the water through patron surveillance,
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 ANSWER 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 ANSWER knowledgable
and skilled, reliable, mature, courteous and consistent, positive, professional, healthy
and fit
lifeguards should: - CORRECT ANSWER 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
ANSWER 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 ANSWER 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 ANSWER (2
years.) annual certification training.
why is it important to attend a pre-season orientation and training - CORRECT
ANSWER 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 ANSWER emergency action plan
why is it important for lifeguards and other team members to understand and practice
the EAP - CORRECT ANSWER 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 ANSWER at least. hours of in service training
each month
what are the benefits of regular, frequent in-service training - CORRECT ANSWER
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 ANSWER
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 ANSWER 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 ANSWER 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 ANSWER 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.
LIFEGUARDING WRITTEN EXAM
QUESTIONS & DETAILED PASSED
ANSWERS
What is the primary responsibility of a lifeguard? - CORRECT ANSWER to prevent
drowning and other injuries from occurring at your aquatic facility.
Provide three examples of how lifeguards fulfill their primary responsibility - CORRECT
ANSWER monitoring activities in and near the water through patron surveillance,
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 ANSWER 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 ANSWER knowledgable
and skilled, reliable, mature, courteous and consistent, positive, professional, healthy
and fit
lifeguards should: - CORRECT ANSWER 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
ANSWER 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 ANSWER 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 ANSWER (2
years.) annual certification training.
why is it important to attend a pre-season orientation and training - CORRECT
ANSWER 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 ANSWER emergency action plan
why is it important for lifeguards and other team members to understand and practice
the EAP - CORRECT ANSWER 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 ANSWER at least. hours of in service training
each month
what are the benefits of regular, frequent in-service training - CORRECT ANSWER
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 ANSWER
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 ANSWER 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 ANSWER 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 ANSWER 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.
