RED CROSS LIFEGUARD REVIEW
PACKET WITH VERIFIED QUESTIONS
AND ANSWERS
What is the primary responsibility of a lifeguard - ANSWER-to prevent drowning and other injuries
occuring at the aquatic facility
Provide three examples of how lifeguards fulfill their primary responsibility: - ANSWER-Answers should
include three of the following: ■ 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 emergencies. ■ Administering first aid and CPR, including using an automated external
defibrillator (AED) and, if trained, administering emergency oxygen when needed. ■ Working as a team
with other lifeguards, facility staff, and management.
List five examples of secondary responsibilities that should never interfere with patron surveillance: -
ANSWER-Answers should include: ■ Testing pool water chemistry. ■ Assisting patrons, such as
performing safety orientations, administering swim tests and fitting for life jackets. ■ Cleaning or
performing maintenance. ■ Completing records and reports. ■ Performing opening duties, closing duties
or facility safety checks and inspections.
List five characteristics of a professional lifeguard: - ANSWER-Answers should include: ■ Knowledgeable
and Skilled ■ Reliable ■ Mature ■ Courteous and Consistent ■ Positive ■ Professional ■ Healthy and Fit
Lifeguards should: - 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? - ANSWER-Negligence
List the five steps that a lifeguard should take when obtaining consent from an injured or ill person
before providing first aid or emergency care: - ANSWER-1. State your name. 2. State your level of
,training. 3. Ask if you may help 4. Explain that you would like to assess them to find out what you think
maybe wrong or what you can do to help. 5. Explain what you plan to do
What is the validity period of an American Red Cross Lifeguarding certification? How does an American
Red Cross certified lifeguard get recertified? - ANSWER-The American Red Cross Lifeguarding/First
Aid/CPR/AED Certification is valid for 2 years. Additional training may be required to meet state and
local regulations or facility-specific policies. ■ To re-certify, American Red Cross certified Lifeguards with
a current certification may participate in a review course. ■ Individuals with an expired American Red
Cross Lifeguarding/First Aid/CPR/AED certification may participate in the full Lifeguarding course.
Why is it important to attend a pre-season orientation and training - ANSWER-All of the above (To
ensure that lifeguards understand their responsibilities and know how to perform their job, To ensure
that lifeguards get practice with their facility's safety and rescue equipment and emergency action plans,
To ensure lifeguards understand codes, rules and regulations of the facility)
What does EAP stand for? - ANSWER-Emergency Action Plan
Why is it important for lifeguards and other team members to understand and practice the EAP? -
ANSWER-Answers include: ■ Lifeguards and other staff members must practice the facility's EAPs
together until everyone knows their responsibilities and can perform them effectively. ■ Conditions can
change throughout the day, so the EAP may need to be adapted to particular situations (e.g., number of
lifeguards on duty, availability of other safety team members on duty, types of activities occurring, etc.).
What is the best practice for the frequency of in-service training participation at well-managed aquatic
facilities? - ANSWER-At least 4 hours of in-service training each month
What are the benefits of regular, frequent in-service training? - ANSWER-Answer should include: ■ Helps
lifeguards maintain knowledge and skills as a professional rescuer. ■ Skills degrade quickly and regular
practice and feedback keeps skills fresh. ■ Gives lifeguards a chance to practice with lifeguards at their
facility. ■ Helps lifeguards work with the safety team to efficiently respond in an emergency.
List four topics that could be a discussed during in-service training: - ANSWER-Answers should include
four of the following: ■ Address surveillance and recognition issues. ■ Practice rescue skills. ■
, Understand and practice decision-making protocols. ■ Review facility rules and regulations. ■ Review
facility protocols including records and reports. ■ Practice customer service skills. ■ Physical
conditioning for lifeguards.
What items are considered to be personal protective equipment for a lifeguard? - ANSWER-Responses
should include: ■ Gloves ■ Resuscitation masks ■ Gowns ■ 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 reason(s) why this equipment should be worn or carried. - ANSWER-Responses should
include: ■ A Rescue tube should be worn at all times when performing patron surveillance. Rescue tubes
are capable of keeping multiple victims afloat and they are the primary pierce of equipment used to
perform a water rescue. ■ Hip-packs containing gloves and resuscitation mask(s) should be worn by
lifeguards at all times, even when not on surveillance duty, so that equipment is instantly available in an
emergency. ■ Resuscitation mask(s) allow lifeguards to breathe air into a victim without making mouth-
to-mouth contact. Resuscitation mask(s) should be carried in the Lifeguard's hip pack at all times, even
when not on surveillance duty, so that it is available instantly in an emergency. ■ A Whistle is a signaling
device for lifeguards used to activate the facility's EAP and to get attention of other members of the
safety team as well as patrons for policy enforcement. Whistles should be loud, made of material that
will not rust and have breakaway lanyards. Lifeguards should wear whistles at all times. ■ Disposable
Gloves are used to protect lifeguards that may be exposed to blood or other potentially infectious
material (OPIM). Gloves should be carried in the Lifeguard's hip pack at all times, even when not on
surveillance duty, so that they are available instantly in an emergency.
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. - ANSWER-Responses should include: ■ Backboards are a
standard piece of equipment used at aquatic facilities to remove victims from the water when they are
unable to exit the water on their own or they have a possible head, neck or spinal injury. ■ Automated
External Defibrillators (AEDs) are used to analyze the hearts rhythm and deliver an electrical shock
(when needed) to help re-established an effective heart rhythm. AEDs are used in conjunction with CPR.
■ First aid kits include supplies used to treat common injuries at aquatic facilities including bleeding and
wounds and help stabilize injuries to muscles, bones and joints. ■ Bag-Valve-Mask (BVM) resuscitators
are used to ventilate a victim in respiratory arrest or when performing CPR with more than one rescuer.
■ Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is used to prevent lifeguards from coming into direct contact
with a victim's body fluids. PPE includes gloves, resuscitation masks, gowns, masks, shields and
protective eyewear. ■ Rescue boards (for waterfront facilities) are used as standard equipment at
waterfront facilities and are designed to accommodate a lifeguard plus one or more victims. Rescue
boards may be used during rescues to quickly paddle out long distances or as a patrolling device for
lifeguards.
PACKET WITH VERIFIED QUESTIONS
AND ANSWERS
What is the primary responsibility of a lifeguard - ANSWER-to prevent drowning and other injuries
occuring at the aquatic facility
Provide three examples of how lifeguards fulfill their primary responsibility: - ANSWER-Answers should
include three of the following: ■ 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 emergencies. ■ Administering first aid and CPR, including using an automated external
defibrillator (AED) and, if trained, administering emergency oxygen when needed. ■ Working as a team
with other lifeguards, facility staff, and management.
List five examples of secondary responsibilities that should never interfere with patron surveillance: -
ANSWER-Answers should include: ■ Testing pool water chemistry. ■ Assisting patrons, such as
performing safety orientations, administering swim tests and fitting for life jackets. ■ Cleaning or
performing maintenance. ■ Completing records and reports. ■ Performing opening duties, closing duties
or facility safety checks and inspections.
List five characteristics of a professional lifeguard: - ANSWER-Answers should include: ■ Knowledgeable
and Skilled ■ Reliable ■ Mature ■ Courteous and Consistent ■ Positive ■ Professional ■ Healthy and Fit
Lifeguards should: - 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? - ANSWER-Negligence
List the five steps that a lifeguard should take when obtaining consent from an injured or ill person
before providing first aid or emergency care: - ANSWER-1. State your name. 2. State your level of
,training. 3. Ask if you may help 4. Explain that you would like to assess them to find out what you think
maybe wrong or what you can do to help. 5. Explain what you plan to do
What is the validity period of an American Red Cross Lifeguarding certification? How does an American
Red Cross certified lifeguard get recertified? - ANSWER-The American Red Cross Lifeguarding/First
Aid/CPR/AED Certification is valid for 2 years. Additional training may be required to meet state and
local regulations or facility-specific policies. ■ To re-certify, American Red Cross certified Lifeguards with
a current certification may participate in a review course. ■ Individuals with an expired American Red
Cross Lifeguarding/First Aid/CPR/AED certification may participate in the full Lifeguarding course.
Why is it important to attend a pre-season orientation and training - ANSWER-All of the above (To
ensure that lifeguards understand their responsibilities and know how to perform their job, To ensure
that lifeguards get practice with their facility's safety and rescue equipment and emergency action plans,
To ensure lifeguards understand codes, rules and regulations of the facility)
What does EAP stand for? - ANSWER-Emergency Action Plan
Why is it important for lifeguards and other team members to understand and practice the EAP? -
ANSWER-Answers include: ■ Lifeguards and other staff members must practice the facility's EAPs
together until everyone knows their responsibilities and can perform them effectively. ■ Conditions can
change throughout the day, so the EAP may need to be adapted to particular situations (e.g., number of
lifeguards on duty, availability of other safety team members on duty, types of activities occurring, etc.).
What is the best practice for the frequency of in-service training participation at well-managed aquatic
facilities? - ANSWER-At least 4 hours of in-service training each month
What are the benefits of regular, frequent in-service training? - ANSWER-Answer should include: ■ Helps
lifeguards maintain knowledge and skills as a professional rescuer. ■ Skills degrade quickly and regular
practice and feedback keeps skills fresh. ■ Gives lifeguards a chance to practice with lifeguards at their
facility. ■ Helps lifeguards work with the safety team to efficiently respond in an emergency.
List four topics that could be a discussed during in-service training: - ANSWER-Answers should include
four of the following: ■ Address surveillance and recognition issues. ■ Practice rescue skills. ■
, Understand and practice decision-making protocols. ■ Review facility rules and regulations. ■ Review
facility protocols including records and reports. ■ Practice customer service skills. ■ Physical
conditioning for lifeguards.
What items are considered to be personal protective equipment for a lifeguard? - ANSWER-Responses
should include: ■ Gloves ■ Resuscitation masks ■ Gowns ■ 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 reason(s) why this equipment should be worn or carried. - ANSWER-Responses should
include: ■ A Rescue tube should be worn at all times when performing patron surveillance. Rescue tubes
are capable of keeping multiple victims afloat and they are the primary pierce of equipment used to
perform a water rescue. ■ Hip-packs containing gloves and resuscitation mask(s) should be worn by
lifeguards at all times, even when not on surveillance duty, so that equipment is instantly available in an
emergency. ■ Resuscitation mask(s) allow lifeguards to breathe air into a victim without making mouth-
to-mouth contact. Resuscitation mask(s) should be carried in the Lifeguard's hip pack at all times, even
when not on surveillance duty, so that it is available instantly in an emergency. ■ A Whistle is a signaling
device for lifeguards used to activate the facility's EAP and to get attention of other members of the
safety team as well as patrons for policy enforcement. Whistles should be loud, made of material that
will not rust and have breakaway lanyards. Lifeguards should wear whistles at all times. ■ Disposable
Gloves are used to protect lifeguards that may be exposed to blood or other potentially infectious
material (OPIM). Gloves should be carried in the Lifeguard's hip pack at all times, even when not on
surveillance duty, so that they are available instantly in an emergency.
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. - ANSWER-Responses should include: ■ Backboards are a
standard piece of equipment used at aquatic facilities to remove victims from the water when they are
unable to exit the water on their own or they have a possible head, neck or spinal injury. ■ Automated
External Defibrillators (AEDs) are used to analyze the hearts rhythm and deliver an electrical shock
(when needed) to help re-established an effective heart rhythm. AEDs are used in conjunction with CPR.
■ First aid kits include supplies used to treat common injuries at aquatic facilities including bleeding and
wounds and help stabilize injuries to muscles, bones and joints. ■ Bag-Valve-Mask (BVM) resuscitators
are used to ventilate a victim in respiratory arrest or when performing CPR with more than one rescuer.
■ Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is used to prevent lifeguards from coming into direct contact
with a victim's body fluids. PPE includes gloves, resuscitation masks, gowns, masks, shields and
protective eyewear. ■ Rescue boards (for waterfront facilities) are used as standard equipment at
waterfront facilities and are designed to accommodate a lifeguard plus one or more victims. Rescue
boards may be used during rescues to quickly paddle out long distances or as a patrolling device for
lifeguards.
