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Red Cross Lifeguarding Exam 2025 – 200 Practice
Questions and Correct Answers/ Red Cross
Lifeguard Practice Test (Brand new!)
1. What are the characteristics of a professional lifeguard?
- ...ANSWER...✓✓ • Knowledgeable,
• Able to perform appropriate skills,
• Reliable,
• Mature,
• Courteous and consistent,
• Positive,
• Professional,
• Healthy and fit
2. Why would you perform a slide in entry? -
...ANSWER...✓✓ We perform a slide in entry when the
there is a head, neck, or spinal injury, or the pool it too
shallow, or it is to crowded.
3. What are the characteristics of a distressed victim? -
...ANSWER...✓✓ • Able to keep his or her face out of the
water
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• Able to call for help, Able to wave for help
• Horizontal, vertical or diagonal body position, depending
on what the person is using for support
• Floating, sculling or treading water
4. You notice a patron that is swimming laps who
suddenly slips under water without a struggle and does
not resurface. This person is probably: - ...ANSWER...✓✓
A passive victim who needs help.
5. For a head, neck or spinal injury in deep water: -
...ANSWER...✓✓ Minimize movement of the victim's head
and neck using the head splint technique.
6. In some cases, what might a very small child look like
when they are an active victim? - ...ANSWER...✓✓ •
Appears to be doing the "doggy paddle" but is not making
forward progress
• In a horizontal position at the surface but not able to
raise the face up out of the water
• Underwater, struggling to get to the surface
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7. What are some important factors for effective
scanning? - ...ANSWER...✓✓ • Know what to look for to
determine if a victim is in trouble in the water.
• Deliberately and actively observe swimmer's behavior.
• Scan the entire volume of water: bottom, middle and
surface.
• Move your eyes and head while scanning and look
directly at the patron's body movements.
• Maintain an active, rescue-ready posture.
8. What are some examples of life-threatening conditions
- ...ANSWER...✓✓ • Unconsciousness,
• Breathing and Cardiac emergencies,
• Severe bleeding,
• Drowning
9. What are some tasks that should be the lifeguard's
primary responsibility? - ...ANSWER...✓✓ • Monitoring
activities in and near the water through patron
surveillance
• Preventing injuries by minimizing or eliminating
hazardous situations or behaviors
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• Enforcing facility rules and regulations and educating
patrons about them
• Recognizing and responding quickly and effectively to all
emergencies
• Administering first aid and CPR or using an AED in an
emergency
• Working as a team with other lifeguards, facility staff
and management
10. While scanning your zone, you notice a person
motionless in the water. The steps you follow in a water
emergency are performed in the following order: -
...ANSWER...✓✓ Activate the EAP, enter the water,
perform an appropriate rescue, move the victim to a safe
exit point, remove the victim from the water and provide
emergency care as needed.
11. What type of equipment need to be with you when you
are on guard? - ...ANSWER...✓✓ • Gloves
• Resuscitation mask
• Rescue tube
Red Cross Lifeguarding Exam 2025 – 200 Practice
Questions and Correct Answers/ Red Cross
Lifeguard Practice Test (Brand new!)
1. What are the characteristics of a professional lifeguard?
- ...ANSWER...✓✓ • Knowledgeable,
• Able to perform appropriate skills,
• Reliable,
• Mature,
• Courteous and consistent,
• Positive,
• Professional,
• Healthy and fit
2. Why would you perform a slide in entry? -
...ANSWER...✓✓ We perform a slide in entry when the
there is a head, neck, or spinal injury, or the pool it too
shallow, or it is to crowded.
3. What are the characteristics of a distressed victim? -
...ANSWER...✓✓ • Able to keep his or her face out of the
water
,2|Page
• Able to call for help, Able to wave for help
• Horizontal, vertical or diagonal body position, depending
on what the person is using for support
• Floating, sculling or treading water
4. You notice a patron that is swimming laps who
suddenly slips under water without a struggle and does
not resurface. This person is probably: - ...ANSWER...✓✓
A passive victim who needs help.
5. For a head, neck or spinal injury in deep water: -
...ANSWER...✓✓ Minimize movement of the victim's head
and neck using the head splint technique.
6. In some cases, what might a very small child look like
when they are an active victim? - ...ANSWER...✓✓ •
Appears to be doing the "doggy paddle" but is not making
forward progress
• In a horizontal position at the surface but not able to
raise the face up out of the water
• Underwater, struggling to get to the surface
,3|Page
7. What are some important factors for effective
scanning? - ...ANSWER...✓✓ • Know what to look for to
determine if a victim is in trouble in the water.
• Deliberately and actively observe swimmer's behavior.
• Scan the entire volume of water: bottom, middle and
surface.
• Move your eyes and head while scanning and look
directly at the patron's body movements.
• Maintain an active, rescue-ready posture.
8. What are some examples of life-threatening conditions
- ...ANSWER...✓✓ • Unconsciousness,
• Breathing and Cardiac emergencies,
• Severe bleeding,
• Drowning
9. What are some tasks that should be the lifeguard's
primary responsibility? - ...ANSWER...✓✓ • Monitoring
activities in and near the water through patron
surveillance
• Preventing injuries by minimizing or eliminating
hazardous situations or behaviors
, 4|Page
• Enforcing facility rules and regulations and educating
patrons about them
• Recognizing and responding quickly and effectively to all
emergencies
• Administering first aid and CPR or using an AED in an
emergency
• Working as a team with other lifeguards, facility staff
and management
10. While scanning your zone, you notice a person
motionless in the water. The steps you follow in a water
emergency are performed in the following order: -
...ANSWER...✓✓ Activate the EAP, enter the water,
perform an appropriate rescue, move the victim to a safe
exit point, remove the victim from the water and provide
emergency care as needed.
11. What type of equipment need to be with you when you
are on guard? - ...ANSWER...✓✓ • Gloves
• Resuscitation mask
• Rescue tube
