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American Red Cross Lifeguard, Red Cross
Lifeguarding Test Questions and Answers
types of drowning victims Ans: distressed, active, passive
distressed swimmer characteristics Ans: -head above water, at the
surface of the water
-able to call for help
-breathing
-able to wave for help
-horizontal, vertical or diagonal, depending on what they use to
support themselves
-floating, sculling or treading water
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compact jump entry Ans: enter water from the deck or an elevated
height. If it is an elevated height (above 3 ft from the water) the
water must be at least 5 ft deep.
AVPU Ans: Alert, Verbal, Painful, Unresponsive
giving ventilation: if the victim is not breathing but has a pulse...
Ans: adult: give 1 ventilation about ever 5-6 seconds
child or infant: give 1 ventilation about every 3 seconds
recheck breathing and pulse about ever 2 min.
if victim is unresponsive and no breathing but has a pulse,
continue giving ventilations.
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if victim is unresponsive and no breathing or pulse, begin CPR.
standard of care Ans: Communication to help prevent injuries,
victim recognition, rescue attempts, and emergency care according
to level of training.
Negligence Ans: failed to follow the standard of care or failed to
act at all
Confidentiality Ans: the act of holding information in confidence,
not to be released to unauthorized individuals
documentation Ans: documenting injuries and incidents
implied consent Ans: Type of consent in which a patient who is
unable to give consent is given treatment under the legal
assumption that he or she would want treatment.
refusal of care Ans: the declining of care by a competent person; a
person has the right to refuse the care of anyone who responds to
an emergency scene
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RID Ans: Recognition, Intrusion, Distraction
CPR Should be performed on a victim who is... Ans: In Cardiac
Arrest. An unconscious victim with an obstructed airway has
similar steps but the process is not called CPR
C.A.B. What does it stand for and when is it used? Ans: Circulation,
Airway, Breathing.
Chest compressions (30). Airway (open). Breaths (2)
Used for CPR
Rate of chest compressions during CPR? Ans: 100 BPM (Roughly
the tempo of the song "Staying Alive" by the BeeGees. Ironically, it
is also the tempo of "Another One Bites The Dust" by Queen.
You are performing CPR when a second lifeguard arrives. What is
most appropriate for the second lifeguard to do first? Ans: Check
to see whether EMS personell have been called.
© 2025 All rights reserved
American Red Cross Lifeguard, Red Cross
Lifeguarding Test Questions and Answers
types of drowning victims Ans: distressed, active, passive
distressed swimmer characteristics Ans: -head above water, at the
surface of the water
-able to call for help
-breathing
-able to wave for help
-horizontal, vertical or diagonal, depending on what they use to
support themselves
-floating, sculling or treading water
© 2025 All rights reserved
, 2 | Page
compact jump entry Ans: enter water from the deck or an elevated
height. If it is an elevated height (above 3 ft from the water) the
water must be at least 5 ft deep.
AVPU Ans: Alert, Verbal, Painful, Unresponsive
giving ventilation: if the victim is not breathing but has a pulse...
Ans: adult: give 1 ventilation about ever 5-6 seconds
child or infant: give 1 ventilation about every 3 seconds
recheck breathing and pulse about ever 2 min.
if victim is unresponsive and no breathing but has a pulse,
continue giving ventilations.
© 2025 All rights reserved
, 3 | Page
if victim is unresponsive and no breathing or pulse, begin CPR.
standard of care Ans: Communication to help prevent injuries,
victim recognition, rescue attempts, and emergency care according
to level of training.
Negligence Ans: failed to follow the standard of care or failed to
act at all
Confidentiality Ans: the act of holding information in confidence,
not to be released to unauthorized individuals
documentation Ans: documenting injuries and incidents
implied consent Ans: Type of consent in which a patient who is
unable to give consent is given treatment under the legal
assumption that he or she would want treatment.
refusal of care Ans: the declining of care by a competent person; a
person has the right to refuse the care of anyone who responds to
an emergency scene
© 2025 All rights reserved
, 4 | Page
RID Ans: Recognition, Intrusion, Distraction
CPR Should be performed on a victim who is... Ans: In Cardiac
Arrest. An unconscious victim with an obstructed airway has
similar steps but the process is not called CPR
C.A.B. What does it stand for and when is it used? Ans: Circulation,
Airway, Breathing.
Chest compressions (30). Airway (open). Breaths (2)
Used for CPR
Rate of chest compressions during CPR? Ans: 100 BPM (Roughly
the tempo of the song "Staying Alive" by the BeeGees. Ironically, it
is also the tempo of "Another One Bites The Dust" by Queen.
You are performing CPR when a second lifeguard arrives. What is
most appropriate for the second lifeguard to do first? Ans: Check
to see whether EMS personell have been called.
© 2025 All rights reserved
