Red Cross Lifeguard Certification Study Guide 2025 –
Updated Prep & Skills Review
Red Cross Lifeguard Certification Study Guide 2025
Section 1: Surveillance & Victim Recognition (Questions 1-25)
1. What is the primary responsibility of a lifeguard?
A) To clean the pool deck
B) To enforce all facility rules
C) To prevent drowning and other injuries ✓
D) To provide first aid for minor cuts
2. The "RID" factor stands for:
A) Rescue, Inform, Defend
B) Recognition, Intrusion, Distraction
C) Failure to Recognize, Intrusion, Distraction ✓
D) Response, Intervention, Deployment
3. Effective scanning is characterized by:
A) Focusing on one area for a long time
B) A continuous, systematic, and intentional search pattern in your zone ✓
C) Watching the most crowded part of your zone
D) Scanning the entire pool every 10 seconds
4. A passive drowning victim will:
A) Call for help and wave their arms
B) Remain at the surface, appearing to tread water or float motionlessly ✓
C) Struggle underwater for 20-30 seconds before surfacing
D) Be vertical in the water with arms pressing down
5. An active drowning victim will:
A) Be able to call for help clearly
B) Be horizontal and swimming
C) Be vertical in the water, struggling to keep their mouth above the surface ✓
D) Be floating face-down
6. The most common sign of a distressed swimmer is:
A) They are submerged
B) They are calling for help and waving ✓
,C) They are motionless and face-down
D) They are swimming underwater
7. What is "victim recognition"?
A) Identifying a swimmer who is in trouble ✓
B) Remembering a patron's name
C) Recognizing a regular swimmer
D) Identifying a rule breaker
8. How can a lifeguard minimize distractions?
A) By socializing with patrons
B) By using a cell phone for music
C) By avoiding lengthy conversations and focusing on the water ✓
D) By reading a book during slow periods
9. A zone is:
A) The entire pool area
B) The specific area of surveillance assigned to a lifeguard ✓
C) The first aid station
D) The deep end of the pool
10. How often should you typically rotate your position?
A) Every 10 minutes
B) Every 15-30 minutes ✓
C) Every hour
D) Only on your break
11. Effective communication between rotating guards includes:
A) A quick wave
B) A detailed report of any issues or concerns in the zone ✓
C) No communication is needed
D) A simple "hello"
12. Which of these is a sign of a swimmer in potential trouble?
A) Swimming laps with a steady stroke
B) A person clinging to the wall and resting
C) A person floating on their back and relaxing
D) A person's head tilted back with mouth open, hair over eyes ✓
13. The "10/20 Protection Rule" means:
A) Scan your zone for 10 seconds, reach the victim in 20
,B) Scan your entire zone every 10 seconds, and be able to reach the victim within 20 seconds ✓
C) Take a 10-minute break every 20 minutes
D) Blow your whistle 10 times for a major incident, 20 for a minor one
14. Intrusion, as part of RID, is:
A) A victim's behavior distracting you
B) Being distracted by your own thoughts
C) Outside distractions (noise, conversations) that divert your attention ✓
D) A manager asking for a report
15. A good lifeguard posture includes:
A) Sitting slouched with arms crossed
B) Standing or sitting upright, with head up and eyes scanning ✓
C) Leaning on the guard chair
D) Sitting with your back to the water
16. The primary purpose of a facility safety check is to:
A) Check the chemical levels
B) Identify and remove hazards before opening ✓
C) Count the number of patrons
D) Test the water temperature
17. A victim who is face-down, motionless, and floating on or near the surface is a:
A) Active drowning victim
B) Distressed swimmer
C) Passive drowning victim ✓
D) Jumper
18. Which behavior should be immediately addressed?
A) A child wearing water wings
B) Running on the pool deck ✓
C) A teenager doing a cannonball in the deep end
D) An adult swimming laps slowly
19. When should you stop scanning your zone?
A) When you are performing a rescue ✓
B) When a patron asks you a question
C) When your manager is talking to you
D) When you are writing in the logbook
, 20. The best way to handle a patron who is asking questions while you are on surveillance is
to:
A) Ignore them and keep scanning
B) Answer quickly while continuing to scan the water ✓
C) Turn your back to the water to give them your full attention
D) Tell them to come back later
21. What is a "blind spot"?
A) An area that is outside your zone of surveillance
B) An area in your zone that is obstructed from your view ✓
C) The area directly under your feet
D) The area where the sun is brightest
22. How should you position your rescue tube while scanning?
A) On the back of your chair
B) Draped over your shoulders and across your body, ready for immediate use ✓
C) On the deck next to you
D) In your lap
23. The transition from surveillance to rescue should be:
A) Slow and methodical
B) Immediate and swift ✓
C) Done only after confirming with another guard
D) Announced over the loudspeaker first
24. A "head-up" approach in scanning means you are:
A) Looking at the horizon
B) Primarily watching the surface of the water ✓
C) Looking at the bottom of the pool
D) Making eye contact with patrons
25. The goal of effective surveillance is to:
A) Identify victims before they need a rescue ✓
B) React quickly once a victim is in distress
C) Catch every rule violation
D) Look busy for your manager
Section 2: Rescue Skills & Waterfront (Questions 26-50)
Updated Prep & Skills Review
Red Cross Lifeguard Certification Study Guide 2025
Section 1: Surveillance & Victim Recognition (Questions 1-25)
1. What is the primary responsibility of a lifeguard?
A) To clean the pool deck
B) To enforce all facility rules
C) To prevent drowning and other injuries ✓
D) To provide first aid for minor cuts
2. The "RID" factor stands for:
A) Rescue, Inform, Defend
B) Recognition, Intrusion, Distraction
C) Failure to Recognize, Intrusion, Distraction ✓
D) Response, Intervention, Deployment
3. Effective scanning is characterized by:
A) Focusing on one area for a long time
B) A continuous, systematic, and intentional search pattern in your zone ✓
C) Watching the most crowded part of your zone
D) Scanning the entire pool every 10 seconds
4. A passive drowning victim will:
A) Call for help and wave their arms
B) Remain at the surface, appearing to tread water or float motionlessly ✓
C) Struggle underwater for 20-30 seconds before surfacing
D) Be vertical in the water with arms pressing down
5. An active drowning victim will:
A) Be able to call for help clearly
B) Be horizontal and swimming
C) Be vertical in the water, struggling to keep their mouth above the surface ✓
D) Be floating face-down
6. The most common sign of a distressed swimmer is:
A) They are submerged
B) They are calling for help and waving ✓
,C) They are motionless and face-down
D) They are swimming underwater
7. What is "victim recognition"?
A) Identifying a swimmer who is in trouble ✓
B) Remembering a patron's name
C) Recognizing a regular swimmer
D) Identifying a rule breaker
8. How can a lifeguard minimize distractions?
A) By socializing with patrons
B) By using a cell phone for music
C) By avoiding lengthy conversations and focusing on the water ✓
D) By reading a book during slow periods
9. A zone is:
A) The entire pool area
B) The specific area of surveillance assigned to a lifeguard ✓
C) The first aid station
D) The deep end of the pool
10. How often should you typically rotate your position?
A) Every 10 minutes
B) Every 15-30 minutes ✓
C) Every hour
D) Only on your break
11. Effective communication between rotating guards includes:
A) A quick wave
B) A detailed report of any issues or concerns in the zone ✓
C) No communication is needed
D) A simple "hello"
12. Which of these is a sign of a swimmer in potential trouble?
A) Swimming laps with a steady stroke
B) A person clinging to the wall and resting
C) A person floating on their back and relaxing
D) A person's head tilted back with mouth open, hair over eyes ✓
13. The "10/20 Protection Rule" means:
A) Scan your zone for 10 seconds, reach the victim in 20
,B) Scan your entire zone every 10 seconds, and be able to reach the victim within 20 seconds ✓
C) Take a 10-minute break every 20 minutes
D) Blow your whistle 10 times for a major incident, 20 for a minor one
14. Intrusion, as part of RID, is:
A) A victim's behavior distracting you
B) Being distracted by your own thoughts
C) Outside distractions (noise, conversations) that divert your attention ✓
D) A manager asking for a report
15. A good lifeguard posture includes:
A) Sitting slouched with arms crossed
B) Standing or sitting upright, with head up and eyes scanning ✓
C) Leaning on the guard chair
D) Sitting with your back to the water
16. The primary purpose of a facility safety check is to:
A) Check the chemical levels
B) Identify and remove hazards before opening ✓
C) Count the number of patrons
D) Test the water temperature
17. A victim who is face-down, motionless, and floating on or near the surface is a:
A) Active drowning victim
B) Distressed swimmer
C) Passive drowning victim ✓
D) Jumper
18. Which behavior should be immediately addressed?
A) A child wearing water wings
B) Running on the pool deck ✓
C) A teenager doing a cannonball in the deep end
D) An adult swimming laps slowly
19. When should you stop scanning your zone?
A) When you are performing a rescue ✓
B) When a patron asks you a question
C) When your manager is talking to you
D) When you are writing in the logbook
, 20. The best way to handle a patron who is asking questions while you are on surveillance is
to:
A) Ignore them and keep scanning
B) Answer quickly while continuing to scan the water ✓
C) Turn your back to the water to give them your full attention
D) Tell them to come back later
21. What is a "blind spot"?
A) An area that is outside your zone of surveillance
B) An area in your zone that is obstructed from your view ✓
C) The area directly under your feet
D) The area where the sun is brightest
22. How should you position your rescue tube while scanning?
A) On the back of your chair
B) Draped over your shoulders and across your body, ready for immediate use ✓
C) On the deck next to you
D) In your lap
23. The transition from surveillance to rescue should be:
A) Slow and methodical
B) Immediate and swift ✓
C) Done only after confirming with another guard
D) Announced over the loudspeaker first
24. A "head-up" approach in scanning means you are:
A) Looking at the horizon
B) Primarily watching the surface of the water ✓
C) Looking at the bottom of the pool
D) Making eye contact with patrons
25. The goal of effective surveillance is to:
A) Identify victims before they need a rescue ✓
B) React quickly once a victim is in distress
C) Catch every rule violation
D) Look busy for your manager
Section 2: Rescue Skills & Waterfront (Questions 26-50)
