EMERGENCY MEDICINE AMERICAN RED
CROSS LIFEGUARD COMPREHENSIVE SCRIPT
2026 QUESTIONS WITH SOLUTIONS GRADED
A+
◉ When does cardiac arrest occur? Answer: Cardiac arrest occurs
when the heart stops beating or beats too ineffectively to circulate
blood to the brain and other vital organs.
◉ Cardiac arrest may occur due to effects of: Answer: Drowning
Breathing Emergencies
Cardiovascular emergencies (heart attack)
Electrocution
Trauma
Toxicity (drug overdose or poisoning)
◉ What is sudden cardiac arrest? Answer: When cardiac arrest
happens suddenly and without any warning.
◉ It is important to recognize the signs of cardiac arrest. What are
the four common signs of cardiac arrest? Answer: 1.) Sudden
collapse
,2.) Unresponsiveness
3.) No pulse
4.) No breathing, or only gasping (agonal breathing)
◉ Cardiac arrest is a life-threatening emergency. For each minute
that CPR and use of an AED are delayed, a person's chance for
survival decreases by _______________. Answer: 7 to 10 percent.
◉ What is the "Cardiac Chain of Survival" which describes six
actions that, when performed in rapid succession, increase the
person's likelihood of surviving cardiac arrest and recovering.
Answer: Link One: Recognition of a cardiac emergency and
activation of the emergency response system
Link Two: Early high-quality CPR
Link Three: Early defibrillation
Link Four: Advanced life support
Link Five: Integrated post-cardiac arrest care
Link Six: Recovery
◉ What must happen in Link One: Recognition of a cardiac
emergency and activation of the emergency response system
Answer: Summon emergency medical services and begin emergency
care right away so that the person has access to necessary
personnel, equipment, and interventions as soon as possible.
, ◉ What must happen in "Link Two: Early high-quality CPR" of the
"Cardiac Chain of Survival"? Answer: High-quality CPR should be
initiated immediately, ideally prior to Emergency Medical Services
(EMS) arrival by those at the scene.
◉ What must happen in "Link Three: Early defibrillation" of the
"Cardiac Chain of Survival"? Answer: Use of an AED prior to EMS
arrival may restore an effective heart rhythm, increasing the chances
for survival.
◉ What must happen in "Link Four: Advanced life support" of the
"Cardiac Chain of Survival"? Answer: A person in cardiac arrest
requires emergency medical care delivered by trained professionals.
EMS professionals provide advanced life support at the scene and on
the way to the hospital.
◉ What must happen in "Link Five: Integrated post-cardiac arrest
care" of the "Cardiac Chain of Survival"? Answer: After the person is
resuscitated, survival outcomes are improved when an
interdisciplinary team of medical professionals works to stabilize
the person's medical condition, minimize complications, and
diagnose and treat the underlying cause of the cardiac arrest.
◉ What must happen in "Link Six: Recovery" of the "Cardiac Chain of
Survival"? Answer: After discharge from the hospital, the person
CROSS LIFEGUARD COMPREHENSIVE SCRIPT
2026 QUESTIONS WITH SOLUTIONS GRADED
A+
◉ When does cardiac arrest occur? Answer: Cardiac arrest occurs
when the heart stops beating or beats too ineffectively to circulate
blood to the brain and other vital organs.
◉ Cardiac arrest may occur due to effects of: Answer: Drowning
Breathing Emergencies
Cardiovascular emergencies (heart attack)
Electrocution
Trauma
Toxicity (drug overdose or poisoning)
◉ What is sudden cardiac arrest? Answer: When cardiac arrest
happens suddenly and without any warning.
◉ It is important to recognize the signs of cardiac arrest. What are
the four common signs of cardiac arrest? Answer: 1.) Sudden
collapse
,2.) Unresponsiveness
3.) No pulse
4.) No breathing, or only gasping (agonal breathing)
◉ Cardiac arrest is a life-threatening emergency. For each minute
that CPR and use of an AED are delayed, a person's chance for
survival decreases by _______________. Answer: 7 to 10 percent.
◉ What is the "Cardiac Chain of Survival" which describes six
actions that, when performed in rapid succession, increase the
person's likelihood of surviving cardiac arrest and recovering.
Answer: Link One: Recognition of a cardiac emergency and
activation of the emergency response system
Link Two: Early high-quality CPR
Link Three: Early defibrillation
Link Four: Advanced life support
Link Five: Integrated post-cardiac arrest care
Link Six: Recovery
◉ What must happen in Link One: Recognition of a cardiac
emergency and activation of the emergency response system
Answer: Summon emergency medical services and begin emergency
care right away so that the person has access to necessary
personnel, equipment, and interventions as soon as possible.
, ◉ What must happen in "Link Two: Early high-quality CPR" of the
"Cardiac Chain of Survival"? Answer: High-quality CPR should be
initiated immediately, ideally prior to Emergency Medical Services
(EMS) arrival by those at the scene.
◉ What must happen in "Link Three: Early defibrillation" of the
"Cardiac Chain of Survival"? Answer: Use of an AED prior to EMS
arrival may restore an effective heart rhythm, increasing the chances
for survival.
◉ What must happen in "Link Four: Advanced life support" of the
"Cardiac Chain of Survival"? Answer: A person in cardiac arrest
requires emergency medical care delivered by trained professionals.
EMS professionals provide advanced life support at the scene and on
the way to the hospital.
◉ What must happen in "Link Five: Integrated post-cardiac arrest
care" of the "Cardiac Chain of Survival"? Answer: After the person is
resuscitated, survival outcomes are improved when an
interdisciplinary team of medical professionals works to stabilize
the person's medical condition, minimize complications, and
diagnose and treat the underlying cause of the cardiac arrest.
◉ What must happen in "Link Six: Recovery" of the "Cardiac Chain of
Survival"? Answer: After discharge from the hospital, the person
