American Red Cross Lifeguarding:
Chapter 3 Latest 2022
What is a passive drowning victim? ✔✔Someone who suddenly slips under the water
unconscious, does not struggle.
Causes of a passive drowning victim ✔✔Heart attack/stroke, seizure, head injury, hypothermia,
heat related illness, hyperventilation, prolonged breath holding, drugs
Signs of a passive drowning victim ✔✔Floating face down near the surface or bottom, limp,
convulsing, NO movement, appear to be just floating
Signs of a passive drowning victim should be taken seriously after.... ✔✔30 seconds.
What is an active drowning victim? ✔✔Struggling. Has distinctive arm and body positions.
Instinctive drowning response ✔✔Universal behavior to try to keep one's mouth above the
surface in order to breathe
Signs of an active drowning victim ✔✔*Cannot call out for help*; as panicking to reach surface,
works to keep face above surface,
arms extended at the side or front,
, positioned vertically,
struggles underwater,
mouth sinks below surface and reappears repeatedly,
does not make any forward progress.
Active drowning victims also take in a lot of... ✔✔water due to gasping for air while drowning
Causes of a swimmer in distress ✔✔Exhaustion, cramp, sudden illness
Signs of a swimmer in distress ✔✔Little or no forward motion, might be unable to reach safety
without assistance. Also may be ABLE to call/wave for help, keep face out of water, floating or
treading water, generally able to reach for a rescue device
Alternate definition of drowning ✔✔Water enters victim's airway because it is submerged. This
causes involuntary breath holding and then laryngospasm- a sudden closure of the
larynx/windpipe.
Cardiac arrest can occur in as little as ✔✔3 mins after being submerged.
Brain damage or death can occur in ✔✔4 to 6 mins after being submerged.
Chapter 3 Latest 2022
What is a passive drowning victim? ✔✔Someone who suddenly slips under the water
unconscious, does not struggle.
Causes of a passive drowning victim ✔✔Heart attack/stroke, seizure, head injury, hypothermia,
heat related illness, hyperventilation, prolonged breath holding, drugs
Signs of a passive drowning victim ✔✔Floating face down near the surface or bottom, limp,
convulsing, NO movement, appear to be just floating
Signs of a passive drowning victim should be taken seriously after.... ✔✔30 seconds.
What is an active drowning victim? ✔✔Struggling. Has distinctive arm and body positions.
Instinctive drowning response ✔✔Universal behavior to try to keep one's mouth above the
surface in order to breathe
Signs of an active drowning victim ✔✔*Cannot call out for help*; as panicking to reach surface,
works to keep face above surface,
arms extended at the side or front,
, positioned vertically,
struggles underwater,
mouth sinks below surface and reappears repeatedly,
does not make any forward progress.
Active drowning victims also take in a lot of... ✔✔water due to gasping for air while drowning
Causes of a swimmer in distress ✔✔Exhaustion, cramp, sudden illness
Signs of a swimmer in distress ✔✔Little or no forward motion, might be unable to reach safety
without assistance. Also may be ABLE to call/wave for help, keep face out of water, floating or
treading water, generally able to reach for a rescue device
Alternate definition of drowning ✔✔Water enters victim's airway because it is submerged. This
causes involuntary breath holding and then laryngospasm- a sudden closure of the
larynx/windpipe.
Cardiac arrest can occur in as little as ✔✔3 mins after being submerged.
Brain damage or death can occur in ✔✔4 to 6 mins after being submerged.
