Passed First Attempt American Red Cross Lifeguarding
Exam Questions 2025
1. What type of station is ideal for a single guard facility?
ANS Elevated Station
2. What are the actions of additional safety team members during a rescue?
ANS Summoning EMS personnel, bringing additional equipment if necessary,
clearing the area or facility, controlling the crowd, meeting EMS personnel
3. What is a condition where an individual breathes at an abnormally rapid
rate, often intentionally?
ANS Voluntary hyperventilation
4. What should lifeguards do to communicate with a victim during a rescue?
ANS Let the victim know what they are doing, reassure them, and instruct them to
answer questions with 'yes' or 'no'
5. What is the importance of understanding and practicing the EAP?
ANS So everyone knows their responsibilities and can perform them effectively
1
,6. What are the guidelines for young children surveillance?
ANS Children might get lost so remind parents to keep an eye on their children,
watch out for children using the pool as a toilet
7. What is a rescue technique for a child facing away and struggling to keep
their head above water?
ANS Active Victim Rear Rescue
8. What are the responsibilities of the outgoing lifeguard during rotation?
ANS Inform the incoming lifeguard of any situations that need special attention
9. What is the process of resuming normal responsibilities after an emergency
situation has been resolved?
ANS Return to duty
10. What are the core objectives in a rescue?
ANS Ensure the safety of the victim, yourself, and others, use an appropriate and
effective rescue technique, provide an appropriate assessment treating life-
threatening conditions first, handle the rescue with a sense of urgency
11. What are the general procedures for a water rescue?
ANS Activate the emergency action plan, enter the water if necessary, perform an
appropriate rescue, move the victim to a safe exit point, remove the victim from
water, provide emergency care as needed, report, advise, and release
2
, 12. What are the benefits of regular, frequent in-service training?
ANS Helps you maintain your knowledge and skills at a professional level, gives
you a chance to practice with other lifeguards at your facility, and it will help you
to efficiently respond as a team in an emergency
13. What is a scanning challenge that often occurs at waterfronts but should
not exist at pools?
ANS Murky water
14. What are the safety checklist items for a lakefront?
ANS Bottom conditions, pier attachments, buoys, and safety lines
15. What are the factors for deciding whether to enter the water during a
rescue?
ANS Location of victim, condition of victim, location of other swimmers, your
location, type of equipment used, facility setup, water depth
16. What are the steps to obtain consent from an injured or ill person?
ANS 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
3
Exam Questions 2025
1. What type of station is ideal for a single guard facility?
ANS Elevated Station
2. What are the actions of additional safety team members during a rescue?
ANS Summoning EMS personnel, bringing additional equipment if necessary,
clearing the area or facility, controlling the crowd, meeting EMS personnel
3. What is a condition where an individual breathes at an abnormally rapid
rate, often intentionally?
ANS Voluntary hyperventilation
4. What should lifeguards do to communicate with a victim during a rescue?
ANS Let the victim know what they are doing, reassure them, and instruct them to
answer questions with 'yes' or 'no'
5. What is the importance of understanding and practicing the EAP?
ANS So everyone knows their responsibilities and can perform them effectively
1
,6. What are the guidelines for young children surveillance?
ANS Children might get lost so remind parents to keep an eye on their children,
watch out for children using the pool as a toilet
7. What is a rescue technique for a child facing away and struggling to keep
their head above water?
ANS Active Victim Rear Rescue
8. What are the responsibilities of the outgoing lifeguard during rotation?
ANS Inform the incoming lifeguard of any situations that need special attention
9. What is the process of resuming normal responsibilities after an emergency
situation has been resolved?
ANS Return to duty
10. What are the core objectives in a rescue?
ANS Ensure the safety of the victim, yourself, and others, use an appropriate and
effective rescue technique, provide an appropriate assessment treating life-
threatening conditions first, handle the rescue with a sense of urgency
11. What are the general procedures for a water rescue?
ANS Activate the emergency action plan, enter the water if necessary, perform an
appropriate rescue, move the victim to a safe exit point, remove the victim from
water, provide emergency care as needed, report, advise, and release
2
, 12. What are the benefits of regular, frequent in-service training?
ANS Helps you maintain your knowledge and skills at a professional level, gives
you a chance to practice with other lifeguards at your facility, and it will help you
to efficiently respond as a team in an emergency
13. What is a scanning challenge that often occurs at waterfronts but should
not exist at pools?
ANS Murky water
14. What are the safety checklist items for a lakefront?
ANS Bottom conditions, pier attachments, buoys, and safety lines
15. What are the factors for deciding whether to enter the water during a
rescue?
ANS Location of victim, condition of victim, location of other swimmers, your
location, type of equipment used, facility setup, water depth
16. What are the steps to obtain consent from an injured or ill person?
ANS 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
3
