AMERICAN RED CROSS LIFEGUARD TEST
2025/2026 Edition | Original Practice
Questions 120 Questions with Detailed
Rationales
AMERICAN RED CROSS LIFEGUARDING PRACTICE EXAM
1. What is the primary responsibility of a lifeguard?
• A) Enforcing facility rules
• B) Preventing drowning and injuries
• C) Maintaining pool chemistry
• D) Performing administrative duties
Answer: B
Rationale: The lifeguard's primary responsibility is to actively prevent drowning
and injuries through constant surveillance. All other tasks are secondary and must
never interfere with this duty .
2. Which of the following is considered a secondary responsibility?
• A) Monitoring activities in and near the water
• B) Administering first aid and CPR
• C) Testing pool water chemistry
• D) Working as a team with other lifeguards
Answer: C
Rationale: Testing pool water chemistry is a secondary responsibility that should
,never interfere with patron surveillance . Primary responsibilities include
surveillance, emergency care, and teamwork.
3. A lifeguard is distracted by a conversation and fails to recognize a drowning
victim. What legal principle could apply?
• A) Abandonment
• B) Good Samaritan Law
• C) Negligence
• D) Standard of Care
Answer: C
Rationale: Negligence is the failure to follow the standard of care, resulting in
harm. Failing to maintain surveillance falls below the professional standard .
4. What does the "I" in the RID factors stand for?
• A) Inability
• B) Intrusion
• C) Injury
• D) Inattention
Answer: B
Rationale: RID stands for Recognition failure, Intrusion of secondary duties, and
Distraction—the three main reasons lifeguards fail to see a drowning victim .
5. How long is an American Red Cross Lifeguard certification valid?
• A) 1 year
• B) 2 years
, • C) 3 years
• D) 5 years
Answer: B
Rationale: The Lifeguarding, First Aid, and CPR/AED certification is valid for 2 years
from the date of course completion .
6. What is the minimum score required to pass the written exam?
• A) 70%
• B) 75%
• C) 80%
• D) 85%
Answer: C
Rationale: Participants must score a minimum of 80% on the 50-question final
written exam to pass the course .
7. You are performing CPR on an adult. What is the correct compression-to-
ventilation ratio?
• A) 15:2
• B) 20:2
• C) 30:2
• D) 50:2
Answer: C
Rationale: The Red Cross guidelines for single-rescuer CPR on adults, children, and
infants use a ratio of 30 compressions to 2 breaths.
, 8. What is the proper depth for chest compressions on an adult?
• A) At least 1 inch
• B) At least 1.5 inches
• C) At least 2 inches
• D) At least 3 inches
Answer: C
Rationale: For adults, compressions must be at least 2 inches deep (but no more
than 2.4 inches).
9. When using an AED, what is the FIRST step?
• A) Apply the pads
• B) Press the shock button
• C) Turn on the device
• D) Remove clothing from the chest
Answer: C
Rationale: The first step is to power on the AED. It will then provide verbal prompts
to guide you through the remaining steps.
10. Which victim type is conscious, vertical in the water, and unable to call for
help?
• A) Distressed swimmer
• B) Active drowning victim
• C) Passive drowning victim
• D) Spinal injury victim
2025/2026 Edition | Original Practice
Questions 120 Questions with Detailed
Rationales
AMERICAN RED CROSS LIFEGUARDING PRACTICE EXAM
1. What is the primary responsibility of a lifeguard?
• A) Enforcing facility rules
• B) Preventing drowning and injuries
• C) Maintaining pool chemistry
• D) Performing administrative duties
Answer: B
Rationale: The lifeguard's primary responsibility is to actively prevent drowning
and injuries through constant surveillance. All other tasks are secondary and must
never interfere with this duty .
2. Which of the following is considered a secondary responsibility?
• A) Monitoring activities in and near the water
• B) Administering first aid and CPR
• C) Testing pool water chemistry
• D) Working as a team with other lifeguards
Answer: C
Rationale: Testing pool water chemistry is a secondary responsibility that should
,never interfere with patron surveillance . Primary responsibilities include
surveillance, emergency care, and teamwork.
3. A lifeguard is distracted by a conversation and fails to recognize a drowning
victim. What legal principle could apply?
• A) Abandonment
• B) Good Samaritan Law
• C) Negligence
• D) Standard of Care
Answer: C
Rationale: Negligence is the failure to follow the standard of care, resulting in
harm. Failing to maintain surveillance falls below the professional standard .
4. What does the "I" in the RID factors stand for?
• A) Inability
• B) Intrusion
• C) Injury
• D) Inattention
Answer: B
Rationale: RID stands for Recognition failure, Intrusion of secondary duties, and
Distraction—the three main reasons lifeguards fail to see a drowning victim .
5. How long is an American Red Cross Lifeguard certification valid?
• A) 1 year
• B) 2 years
, • C) 3 years
• D) 5 years
Answer: B
Rationale: The Lifeguarding, First Aid, and CPR/AED certification is valid for 2 years
from the date of course completion .
6. What is the minimum score required to pass the written exam?
• A) 70%
• B) 75%
• C) 80%
• D) 85%
Answer: C
Rationale: Participants must score a minimum of 80% on the 50-question final
written exam to pass the course .
7. You are performing CPR on an adult. What is the correct compression-to-
ventilation ratio?
• A) 15:2
• B) 20:2
• C) 30:2
• D) 50:2
Answer: C
Rationale: The Red Cross guidelines for single-rescuer CPR on adults, children, and
infants use a ratio of 30 compressions to 2 breaths.
, 8. What is the proper depth for chest compressions on an adult?
• A) At least 1 inch
• B) At least 1.5 inches
• C) At least 2 inches
• D) At least 3 inches
Answer: C
Rationale: For adults, compressions must be at least 2 inches deep (but no more
than 2.4 inches).
9. When using an AED, what is the FIRST step?
• A) Apply the pads
• B) Press the shock button
• C) Turn on the device
• D) Remove clothing from the chest
Answer: C
Rationale: The first step is to power on the AED. It will then provide verbal prompts
to guide you through the remaining steps.
10. Which victim type is conscious, vertical in the water, and unable to call for
help?
• A) Distressed swimmer
• B) Active drowning victim
• C) Passive drowning victim
• D) Spinal injury victim
