Lifeguard Written Test 2025
Actual Exam 400 Questions and
Correct Answers [Verified
Answers]: Brand New Version!
Which tasks might you do as a part of your primary responsibility as a lifeguard?
CORRECT ANSWER: Performing CPR, enforcing facility rules, performing patron
surveillance, rescuing a drowning person
True or false? As a lifeguard, you won't need to interact much with your co-workers
CORRECT ANSWER: False
What does the acronym RID stand for in terms of lifeguarding? CORRECT ANSWER:
Recognition, Intrusion, Distraction
A drowning person's airway is submerged beneath the surface of the water, leading to
involuntary breath-holding. Which event occurs next in the drowning process?
CORRECT ANSWER: Laryngospasm
You recognize that someone is in danger of drowning. Which step should you take next
to stop the drowning process? CORRECT ANSWER: Get their airway out of the water
How can you avoid the consequences of excessive sun exposure? CORRECT
ANSWER: Drink water, get plenty of sleep, eat a nutritious diet, wear protective gear,
such as a hate with a brim and sunglasses, reapply sunscreen regularly, use shade
structures supplied by your employer
True or false? A lifeguard's behavior is important because it reflects on their employer
and how much each patron's safety is valued CORRECT ANSWER: True
What qualities should you have as a professional lifeguard? CORRECT ANSWER:
Courteous and consistent, reliable and responsible, healthy and fit, knowledgeable and
skilled
Which is a true statement about where you should place your rescue tube when you are
on surveillance duty? CORRECT ANSWER: When in a lifeguard stand, wear and hold
your rescue tube across your lap
As a professional lifeguard, how would you enforce rules at your facility? CORRECT
ANSWER: Be polite and firm
,Which of the following statements are true about lifeguard evaluations? CORRECT
ANSWER: The evaluator may host an in-service training session to help the lifeguard
team improve their skills, evaluations may be recorded and unannounced
How often should you complete in-service training after getting your certification?
CORRECT ANSWER: At least 4 hours per month
True or false? Annual training and orientation sessions for professional lifeguards offer
important opportunities to learn about on-the-job safety CORRECT ANSWER: True
Which behaviors by the lifeguard demonstrate negligence? CORRECT ANSWER:
Providing emergency care without the proper training, providing the wrong kind of first
aid for the patron's injuries, failing to enforce facility rules leading to a patron being
harmed
What information must you share as a lifeguard to obtain consent from someone in
need of care? CORRECT ANSWER: Your name, type/level of training you have, what
you plan to do
When is consent from a person implied? CORRECT ANSWER: If the person is
unresponsive or mentally altered
True or false? Part of management's responsibility for risk management is hiring,
scheduling and supervising certified lifeguards. CORRECT ANSWER: True
Imagine you notice an exposed wire dangerously close to a puddle of water by the pool
during your morning safety check. Which of the following options describes the best
course of action? CORRECT ANSWER: Block off access to the area and call for a
manager immediately so they can resolve the situation safely
What does OSHA's Bloodborne Pathogens Standards address? CORRECT ANSWER:
Requirements for employers to inform employees about exposure to bloodborne
pathogens and implement measure to protect employees from potentially infectious
material while on the job
Identify the various aspects of an aquatic facility that could be impacted by government
regulations CORRECT ANSWER: Design and construction of the facility, facility
policies, management and maintenance
True or false? Labor laws are set by federal and state departments to limit the number of
hours that employees 18 years of age and older are allowed to work and the types of
tasks they are allowed to perform. CORRECT ANSWER: False
True or false? If you are on surveillance duty when you notice a hazard, it's okay to
momentarily stop surveillance to address the hazard CORRECT ANSWER: False
,When conducting a facility safety check, you notice a potential hazard. Which action
should you take first? CORRECT ANSWER: Attempt to correct the problem
Which actions are examples of steps typically included on a facility's safety checklist?
CORRECT ANSWER: Check that all EMS equipment is ready for use and in its proper
place, inspect restrooms/locker rooms/dining rooms to make sure they are all clean and
well maintained, inspect structures and attractions to ensure they are stable, free of
hazards, and in good condition
True or false? It is important for a facility to post warnings and rules for patron behavior
in plain view of patrons and staff. CORRECT ANSWER: True
Which general safety rules are common at aquatic facilities? CORRECT ANSWER: No
sitting or playing near drains or suction fittings, no swimming with open or infected
wounds, no running pushing or rough play, no glass containers by the pool or locker
room
True or false? As a lifeguard, it's your job to help ensure patrons understand and follow
the rules CORRECT ANSWER: True
What is the general guideline provided by the National Lightning Safety Institute
regarding how long you should wait after last sighting lightning or hearing thunder
before allowing patrons to return to the water? CORRECT ANSWER: 30 minutes
In which weather condition should you clear patrons from the water? CORRECT
ANSWER: Thunder and lightning
True or False? The responsibility of preventing drowning is about more than just what
happens while a lifeguard is on surveillance duty CORRECT ANSWER: True
What are some of the steps you should take to help ensure that you are ready to
intervene in a drowning incident? CORRECT ANSWER: Stay healthy and well-rested,
know the location of all rescue equipment at the facility, learn how to recognize the
behaviors of a distressed swimmer or drowning person
True or false? Lifeguards are responsible for knowing how to use the facility's rescue
equipment, including backboards, AEDs and bag-valve-mask resuscitators CORRECT
ANSWER: True
Which task is not a primary lifeguarding responsibility? CORRECT ANSWER:
Cleaning the locker room
Which characteristics are attributed to a passive drowning person? CORRECT
ANSWER: Unresponsiveness, slight convulsive movements, no defined arm or leg
action, fetal position at the bottom of the pool
, Which behaviors indicate that someone is a distressed swimmer? CORRECT
ANSWER: Calling or waving for help, sculling/floating/or treading water
While guarding a swim practice, you notice that a competitive swimmer takes several
rapid, deep breaths before going underwater. What should you advise the person to do
to stay safe? CORRECT ANSWER: Take only one breath before submerging
True or false? A distressed swimmer can often help themselves, so if you see someone
who looks distressed, they are not yet in need of intervention CORRECT ANSWER:
False, a distressed swimmer is someone who may not be drowning, but they need help
to prevent a drowning emergency from happening
A lifeguard sees something at the bottom of the pool and initiates a rescue, thinking that
they have spotted a submerged drowning person. However, the object was just a
submerged towel. How should you classify this outcome using signal detection theory?
CORRECT ANSWER: False alarm
Which option describes the correct way to wear your rescue tube? CORRECT
ANSWER: In front of you with strap over the shoulder, across your lap in an elevated
situation, across torso/slightly to the side in a walking patrol
Which action is a way you can maintain active attention in your zone? CORRECT
ANSWER: Signal for assistance if you become overwhelmed by a crowded or
disorderly zone
True or false? Recognizing a distressed swimmer or a person who is drowning relies on
both what you see and what you remember from training. CORRECT ANSWER: True
Ideally, how frequently should lifeguards take a break from surveillance duty?
CORRECT ANSWER: Every hour
Identify one way to increase your likelihood of detecting and responding to a distressed
swimmer or drowning person correctly. CORRECT ANSWER: Assess each patron in
your zone with every 30 second scan
Proper scanning technique involves which of the following actions? CORRECT
ANSWER: Scanning areas around play features and structures, searching bottom
middle and surface of the water, observing for signs of a non swimmer/inexperienced
swimmer/person in trouble, scanning areas under and around LFG station
A lifeguard is assigned total coverage but is having difficulty viewing the zone and
conducting effective patron surveillance. Which action should the lifeguard take?
CORRECT ANSWER: Tell a manager that additional coverage is needed
True or false? The facility management and lifeguards share responsibility for ensuring
that zones support effective surveillance CORRECT ANSWER: True
Actual Exam 400 Questions and
Correct Answers [Verified
Answers]: Brand New Version!
Which tasks might you do as a part of your primary responsibility as a lifeguard?
CORRECT ANSWER: Performing CPR, enforcing facility rules, performing patron
surveillance, rescuing a drowning person
True or false? As a lifeguard, you won't need to interact much with your co-workers
CORRECT ANSWER: False
What does the acronym RID stand for in terms of lifeguarding? CORRECT ANSWER:
Recognition, Intrusion, Distraction
A drowning person's airway is submerged beneath the surface of the water, leading to
involuntary breath-holding. Which event occurs next in the drowning process?
CORRECT ANSWER: Laryngospasm
You recognize that someone is in danger of drowning. Which step should you take next
to stop the drowning process? CORRECT ANSWER: Get their airway out of the water
How can you avoid the consequences of excessive sun exposure? CORRECT
ANSWER: Drink water, get plenty of sleep, eat a nutritious diet, wear protective gear,
such as a hate with a brim and sunglasses, reapply sunscreen regularly, use shade
structures supplied by your employer
True or false? A lifeguard's behavior is important because it reflects on their employer
and how much each patron's safety is valued CORRECT ANSWER: True
What qualities should you have as a professional lifeguard? CORRECT ANSWER:
Courteous and consistent, reliable and responsible, healthy and fit, knowledgeable and
skilled
Which is a true statement about where you should place your rescue tube when you are
on surveillance duty? CORRECT ANSWER: When in a lifeguard stand, wear and hold
your rescue tube across your lap
As a professional lifeguard, how would you enforce rules at your facility? CORRECT
ANSWER: Be polite and firm
,Which of the following statements are true about lifeguard evaluations? CORRECT
ANSWER: The evaluator may host an in-service training session to help the lifeguard
team improve their skills, evaluations may be recorded and unannounced
How often should you complete in-service training after getting your certification?
CORRECT ANSWER: At least 4 hours per month
True or false? Annual training and orientation sessions for professional lifeguards offer
important opportunities to learn about on-the-job safety CORRECT ANSWER: True
Which behaviors by the lifeguard demonstrate negligence? CORRECT ANSWER:
Providing emergency care without the proper training, providing the wrong kind of first
aid for the patron's injuries, failing to enforce facility rules leading to a patron being
harmed
What information must you share as a lifeguard to obtain consent from someone in
need of care? CORRECT ANSWER: Your name, type/level of training you have, what
you plan to do
When is consent from a person implied? CORRECT ANSWER: If the person is
unresponsive or mentally altered
True or false? Part of management's responsibility for risk management is hiring,
scheduling and supervising certified lifeguards. CORRECT ANSWER: True
Imagine you notice an exposed wire dangerously close to a puddle of water by the pool
during your morning safety check. Which of the following options describes the best
course of action? CORRECT ANSWER: Block off access to the area and call for a
manager immediately so they can resolve the situation safely
What does OSHA's Bloodborne Pathogens Standards address? CORRECT ANSWER:
Requirements for employers to inform employees about exposure to bloodborne
pathogens and implement measure to protect employees from potentially infectious
material while on the job
Identify the various aspects of an aquatic facility that could be impacted by government
regulations CORRECT ANSWER: Design and construction of the facility, facility
policies, management and maintenance
True or false? Labor laws are set by federal and state departments to limit the number of
hours that employees 18 years of age and older are allowed to work and the types of
tasks they are allowed to perform. CORRECT ANSWER: False
True or false? If you are on surveillance duty when you notice a hazard, it's okay to
momentarily stop surveillance to address the hazard CORRECT ANSWER: False
,When conducting a facility safety check, you notice a potential hazard. Which action
should you take first? CORRECT ANSWER: Attempt to correct the problem
Which actions are examples of steps typically included on a facility's safety checklist?
CORRECT ANSWER: Check that all EMS equipment is ready for use and in its proper
place, inspect restrooms/locker rooms/dining rooms to make sure they are all clean and
well maintained, inspect structures and attractions to ensure they are stable, free of
hazards, and in good condition
True or false? It is important for a facility to post warnings and rules for patron behavior
in plain view of patrons and staff. CORRECT ANSWER: True
Which general safety rules are common at aquatic facilities? CORRECT ANSWER: No
sitting or playing near drains or suction fittings, no swimming with open or infected
wounds, no running pushing or rough play, no glass containers by the pool or locker
room
True or false? As a lifeguard, it's your job to help ensure patrons understand and follow
the rules CORRECT ANSWER: True
What is the general guideline provided by the National Lightning Safety Institute
regarding how long you should wait after last sighting lightning or hearing thunder
before allowing patrons to return to the water? CORRECT ANSWER: 30 minutes
In which weather condition should you clear patrons from the water? CORRECT
ANSWER: Thunder and lightning
True or False? The responsibility of preventing drowning is about more than just what
happens while a lifeguard is on surveillance duty CORRECT ANSWER: True
What are some of the steps you should take to help ensure that you are ready to
intervene in a drowning incident? CORRECT ANSWER: Stay healthy and well-rested,
know the location of all rescue equipment at the facility, learn how to recognize the
behaviors of a distressed swimmer or drowning person
True or false? Lifeguards are responsible for knowing how to use the facility's rescue
equipment, including backboards, AEDs and bag-valve-mask resuscitators CORRECT
ANSWER: True
Which task is not a primary lifeguarding responsibility? CORRECT ANSWER:
Cleaning the locker room
Which characteristics are attributed to a passive drowning person? CORRECT
ANSWER: Unresponsiveness, slight convulsive movements, no defined arm or leg
action, fetal position at the bottom of the pool
, Which behaviors indicate that someone is a distressed swimmer? CORRECT
ANSWER: Calling or waving for help, sculling/floating/or treading water
While guarding a swim practice, you notice that a competitive swimmer takes several
rapid, deep breaths before going underwater. What should you advise the person to do
to stay safe? CORRECT ANSWER: Take only one breath before submerging
True or false? A distressed swimmer can often help themselves, so if you see someone
who looks distressed, they are not yet in need of intervention CORRECT ANSWER:
False, a distressed swimmer is someone who may not be drowning, but they need help
to prevent a drowning emergency from happening
A lifeguard sees something at the bottom of the pool and initiates a rescue, thinking that
they have spotted a submerged drowning person. However, the object was just a
submerged towel. How should you classify this outcome using signal detection theory?
CORRECT ANSWER: False alarm
Which option describes the correct way to wear your rescue tube? CORRECT
ANSWER: In front of you with strap over the shoulder, across your lap in an elevated
situation, across torso/slightly to the side in a walking patrol
Which action is a way you can maintain active attention in your zone? CORRECT
ANSWER: Signal for assistance if you become overwhelmed by a crowded or
disorderly zone
True or false? Recognizing a distressed swimmer or a person who is drowning relies on
both what you see and what you remember from training. CORRECT ANSWER: True
Ideally, how frequently should lifeguards take a break from surveillance duty?
CORRECT ANSWER: Every hour
Identify one way to increase your likelihood of detecting and responding to a distressed
swimmer or drowning person correctly. CORRECT ANSWER: Assess each patron in
your zone with every 30 second scan
Proper scanning technique involves which of the following actions? CORRECT
ANSWER: Scanning areas around play features and structures, searching bottom
middle and surface of the water, observing for signs of a non swimmer/inexperienced
swimmer/person in trouble, scanning areas under and around LFG station
A lifeguard is assigned total coverage but is having difficulty viewing the zone and
conducting effective patron surveillance. Which action should the lifeguard take?
CORRECT ANSWER: Tell a manager that additional coverage is needed
True or false? The facility management and lifeguards share responsibility for ensuring
that zones support effective surveillance CORRECT ANSWER: True
