ELLIS AND ASSOCIATES LIFEGUARD 2026
EXAMINERS MANUAL QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
SURE A+
✔✔Improving Performance - ✔✔This course is just the beginning of your lifeguard
training.
- your facility supervisor will typically continue your training with additional learning drills
- drills are designed to keep you alert, increase your ability to recognize guests in
distress
- on-going training is designed to make sure you are accountable and at a test-ready
level
✔✔Vigilance Awareness Training® (VAT)® (pg. 74) - ✔✔Designed by Ellis &
Associates (E&A) to evaluate the ability of lifeguards to recognize and respond to a
guest in distress.
- helps you to remain rescue-ready at all times
- real emergencies are simulated to evaluate your ability to to evaluate your awareness
relative to your assigned zone
- drills use objects like submersible manikins, silhouette dolls, or live persons to test
your ability to recognize a problem in your zone and respond accordingly
✔✔E.A.P - ✔✔Emergency Action Plan
✔✔Emergency Action Plans - ✔✔Written procedures to practice and follow when there
is an emergency.
Outlines a course of action that will help you, your supervisors, and other staff to work
as a cohesive team to manage different emergency situations in the best way possible.
- there are different plans for different types of emergencies.
- you are often a primary responder in an emergency
The responding lifeguard, your initial communication of a problem notifies others who
put the steps of the EAP into motion.
,✔✔Ho do you follow an EAP? - ✔✔You will work to achieve a successful outcome by:
• Rapidly recognizing a guest in distress
• Promptly providing a rescue and in-water care
• Moving a guest (extricating) from an area of danger when necessary
• Providing effective care on land while awaiting the arrival of Emergency Medical
Services (EMS) personnel after being summoned
✔✔What are some common pieces of information that may be included in your EAP? -
✔✔• Type of emergency
• Emergency Medical Services (EMS)
• Responding team leader (person ultimately in charge) • Expected actions by personnel
responding (supervisors, lifeguards, other staff)
• Location of equipment and description of how it will be brought to the scene
• Means for maintaining safety and control of remaining guests
• Transfer of care to EMS personnel
• Local authorities notified including public health department
• Reporting including incident report, rescue report, medical services form
• Witness statements
• Media crisis plan including media designated location, facility spokesperson and
statement
• Debriefing and counseling services
Every facility operates differently.
✔✔Multiple Rescuer Facilities - ✔✔Whatever their designation, all responders should
know their roles in every situation.
- When your EAP is activated, working as a team will provide the most effective
response in emergency situations.
- Duties vary based on whether you are the primary responder or secondary responder.
✔✔Supplemental Responders - ✔✔Non-lifeguard team members trained to assist
lifeguards in emergency response.
- Smaller facilities may have only one lifeguard with additional staff trained.
✔✔Single Rescuer Facilities - ✔✔You are the only lifeguard on deck at any time,
responsible for recognizing and responding to any guest in distress.
- If there is a guest who needs assistance, you will render care.
- If you need assistance, request help from supplemental responders who are trained to
do so.
- The lifeguard will be looked upon as the lead responder
- Practice working with your facility supplemental responders so that you are
comfortable as the lead responder
✔✔Communication Devices And Standards - ✔✔Your facility will have a communication
process in place that allows you to activate your EAP and quickly share pertinent
information.
, Knowing your communication program will help you:
• Contact EMS
• Effectively communicate with others while on duty
• Understand what is expected of you by others
• Receive assistance from other lifeguards and non-lifeguard staff
✔✔What are the most common devices used in aquatic facilities? - ✔✔• Whistles
• Two-way radios
• Flags
• Hand signals
• Telephones
• Megaphones
• Public address systems
• Automated audio repeater systems
✔✔Communication Methods (pg. 81: Table 9.1) (pg. 84) - ✔✔Codes and signals are
two methods used for communicating when working at an aquatic facility.
- relay messages quickly
- minimizing the need for discussion
Common Communication Modes:
(1) whistle codes
(2) hand signals
✔✔Whistle Codes (pg. 82: Table 9.2) - ✔✔- The most frequently used device you will
use to communicate
- Whistle at all times when on duty
- Common whistle codes involve short blasts and long blasts
Common Whistle Code Include:
> One Short Whistle Blast: To get a guest's attention.
> Two Short Whistle Blasts: To get the attention of another lifeguard or staff member.
> One or Two Long Whistle Blast(s) : To activate the Emergency Action Plan (EAP);
indicating an emergency that may require a rescue and the assistance of others.
✔✔Hand signals (pg. 83: Table 9.3) - ✔✔- Hold the signal until you are sure it is noticed
- Often combined with whistle codes to ensure that the messages are being received
Common Hand Signals Include:
> Pointing - Identify a location or person, provide direction
> Raised clinched fist - Assistance needed from another lifeguard or a supervisor
> Crossed arms above head - Stop dispatch. Used to stop sending guests into an area
or down a water slide or an attraction
> Thumbs up - All clear. It's safe to continue normal activity.
> Tapping of top of your head - Used to signal the bottom is clear during the Proactive
Bottom Scan Watch my zone. Indicates you are asking another lifeguard to watch your
area.
EXAMINERS MANUAL QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
SURE A+
✔✔Improving Performance - ✔✔This course is just the beginning of your lifeguard
training.
- your facility supervisor will typically continue your training with additional learning drills
- drills are designed to keep you alert, increase your ability to recognize guests in
distress
- on-going training is designed to make sure you are accountable and at a test-ready
level
✔✔Vigilance Awareness Training® (VAT)® (pg. 74) - ✔✔Designed by Ellis &
Associates (E&A) to evaluate the ability of lifeguards to recognize and respond to a
guest in distress.
- helps you to remain rescue-ready at all times
- real emergencies are simulated to evaluate your ability to to evaluate your awareness
relative to your assigned zone
- drills use objects like submersible manikins, silhouette dolls, or live persons to test
your ability to recognize a problem in your zone and respond accordingly
✔✔E.A.P - ✔✔Emergency Action Plan
✔✔Emergency Action Plans - ✔✔Written procedures to practice and follow when there
is an emergency.
Outlines a course of action that will help you, your supervisors, and other staff to work
as a cohesive team to manage different emergency situations in the best way possible.
- there are different plans for different types of emergencies.
- you are often a primary responder in an emergency
The responding lifeguard, your initial communication of a problem notifies others who
put the steps of the EAP into motion.
,✔✔Ho do you follow an EAP? - ✔✔You will work to achieve a successful outcome by:
• Rapidly recognizing a guest in distress
• Promptly providing a rescue and in-water care
• Moving a guest (extricating) from an area of danger when necessary
• Providing effective care on land while awaiting the arrival of Emergency Medical
Services (EMS) personnel after being summoned
✔✔What are some common pieces of information that may be included in your EAP? -
✔✔• Type of emergency
• Emergency Medical Services (EMS)
• Responding team leader (person ultimately in charge) • Expected actions by personnel
responding (supervisors, lifeguards, other staff)
• Location of equipment and description of how it will be brought to the scene
• Means for maintaining safety and control of remaining guests
• Transfer of care to EMS personnel
• Local authorities notified including public health department
• Reporting including incident report, rescue report, medical services form
• Witness statements
• Media crisis plan including media designated location, facility spokesperson and
statement
• Debriefing and counseling services
Every facility operates differently.
✔✔Multiple Rescuer Facilities - ✔✔Whatever their designation, all responders should
know their roles in every situation.
- When your EAP is activated, working as a team will provide the most effective
response in emergency situations.
- Duties vary based on whether you are the primary responder or secondary responder.
✔✔Supplemental Responders - ✔✔Non-lifeguard team members trained to assist
lifeguards in emergency response.
- Smaller facilities may have only one lifeguard with additional staff trained.
✔✔Single Rescuer Facilities - ✔✔You are the only lifeguard on deck at any time,
responsible for recognizing and responding to any guest in distress.
- If there is a guest who needs assistance, you will render care.
- If you need assistance, request help from supplemental responders who are trained to
do so.
- The lifeguard will be looked upon as the lead responder
- Practice working with your facility supplemental responders so that you are
comfortable as the lead responder
✔✔Communication Devices And Standards - ✔✔Your facility will have a communication
process in place that allows you to activate your EAP and quickly share pertinent
information.
, Knowing your communication program will help you:
• Contact EMS
• Effectively communicate with others while on duty
• Understand what is expected of you by others
• Receive assistance from other lifeguards and non-lifeguard staff
✔✔What are the most common devices used in aquatic facilities? - ✔✔• Whistles
• Two-way radios
• Flags
• Hand signals
• Telephones
• Megaphones
• Public address systems
• Automated audio repeater systems
✔✔Communication Methods (pg. 81: Table 9.1) (pg. 84) - ✔✔Codes and signals are
two methods used for communicating when working at an aquatic facility.
- relay messages quickly
- minimizing the need for discussion
Common Communication Modes:
(1) whistle codes
(2) hand signals
✔✔Whistle Codes (pg. 82: Table 9.2) - ✔✔- The most frequently used device you will
use to communicate
- Whistle at all times when on duty
- Common whistle codes involve short blasts and long blasts
Common Whistle Code Include:
> One Short Whistle Blast: To get a guest's attention.
> Two Short Whistle Blasts: To get the attention of another lifeguard or staff member.
> One or Two Long Whistle Blast(s) : To activate the Emergency Action Plan (EAP);
indicating an emergency that may require a rescue and the assistance of others.
✔✔Hand signals (pg. 83: Table 9.3) - ✔✔- Hold the signal until you are sure it is noticed
- Often combined with whistle codes to ensure that the messages are being received
Common Hand Signals Include:
> Pointing - Identify a location or person, provide direction
> Raised clinched fist - Assistance needed from another lifeguard or a supervisor
> Crossed arms above head - Stop dispatch. Used to stop sending guests into an area
or down a water slide or an attraction
> Thumbs up - All clear. It's safe to continue normal activity.
> Tapping of top of your head - Used to signal the bottom is clear during the Proactive
Bottom Scan Watch my zone. Indicates you are asking another lifeguard to watch your
area.
