RED CROSS LIFEGUARD RESCUES
General procedures for a water emergency - Answers- 1. Activate EAP
2. Enter the water, if necessary
3. Perform an appropriate rescue
4. Move the victim to a safe exit point
5. remove the victim from the water
6. provide emergency care as needed
7. Report, advise, and release
slide-in entry - Answers- slower and useful in shallow water, crowded pools or when a
victim has a head neck or spinal injury close to the side of the pool;
1. sit down on the edge facing the water. place the rescue tube next to you or in the
water
2. lower your body into the water feet first
3. retrieve the rescue tube
4. place the rescue tube across your chest with the tube under your armpits, focus on
the victim and begin the approach
stride jump entry - Answers- only if the water is at least 5 feet deep and you are no
more than 3 feet above the water:
1. squeeze the rescue tube high against your chest with the tube under your armpits
2. hold the excess line to keep the line from getting caught on something when jumping
into the water
3. leap into the water with one leg forward and the other leg back
4. lean slightly forward with you chest ahead of your hips, and focus on the victim when
you enter the water
5. squeeze or scissor your legs together right after they make contact with the water for
upward thrust
6. focus on the victim and begin your approach
compact jump entry - Answers- this can be used from the deck or from a height,
depending on the depth of the water; above 3 feet from the surface of the water, the
water should be at least 5 feet deep:
1. squeeze the rescue tube high against your chest with the tube under your armpits
2. hold the excess line to keep it from getting caught in the lifeguard chair or other
equipment when jumping into the water
3. jump out and away from the lifeguard chair, pool deck or pier. in a wave pool, time the
jump to land on the crest of the wave
4. bend your knees and keep your feet together and flat to absorb the shock if you hit
the bottom. do not point your toes or keep your legs straight or stiff
5. let the buoyancy of the rescue tube bring you back to the surface
6. focus on the victim and begin your approach
, run and swim entry - Answers- enter the water from a gradual slope-zero depth area
such as a shoreline or wave pool:
1. hold the rescue tube and excess line above the water, lift your knees high while
running to avoid falling
2. once you cant run anymore, put the tube across your chest and begin swimming;
dont dive into shallow water
front crawl approach - Answers- with the rescue tube under your armpits/torso, in
control, front crawl towards the victim
breaststroke approach - Answers- with the rescue tube under your armpits/torso, in
control, breaststroke towards the victim
long distance approach - Answers- allow the rescue tube to trail behind you and
reposition it in front of you before contacting the victim
walking approach - Answers- in shallow water, hold the tube beside you and walk
quickly, repositioning the tube before contacting the victim
simple assist - Answers- used in shallow water; helping a person to stand, or
submerged victims that are within reach:
1. approach the person who needs help while keeping the rescue tube between you and
the person
2. reach across the tube and grasp the person at the armpit to help the person maintain
his or her balance: if the person is underwater grasp the person under the armpits with
both hands and help him or her stand up
3. assist the person to the exit point
active victim rear rescue - Answers- used for a drowning victim who is facing away from
you:
1. approach the victim from behind with the rescue tube across your chest
2. with both arms, reach under the victim's armpits and grasp the shoulders firmly. tell
them you are here to help
3. using your chest, squeeze the rescue tube between your chest and the victims back
4. keep your head to one side to avoid being hit by the victims head if it moves
backwards
5. lean back and pull the victim onto the rescue tube
6. use the rescue tube to support the victim so that the victims mouth and nose are out
of the water
7. tow the victim to a safe exit
passive victim rear rescue - Answers- used for a drowning victim who is face-down
near the surface without a suspected head, neck or spinal injury:
1. approach a face-down victim from behind with the rescue tube across your chest
2. with both arms, reach under the victim's armpits and grasp the shoulders firmly. you
may be high on the victims back when doing this
General procedures for a water emergency - Answers- 1. Activate EAP
2. Enter the water, if necessary
3. Perform an appropriate rescue
4. Move the victim to a safe exit point
5. remove the victim from the water
6. provide emergency care as needed
7. Report, advise, and release
slide-in entry - Answers- slower and useful in shallow water, crowded pools or when a
victim has a head neck or spinal injury close to the side of the pool;
1. sit down on the edge facing the water. place the rescue tube next to you or in the
water
2. lower your body into the water feet first
3. retrieve the rescue tube
4. place the rescue tube across your chest with the tube under your armpits, focus on
the victim and begin the approach
stride jump entry - Answers- only if the water is at least 5 feet deep and you are no
more than 3 feet above the water:
1. squeeze the rescue tube high against your chest with the tube under your armpits
2. hold the excess line to keep the line from getting caught on something when jumping
into the water
3. leap into the water with one leg forward and the other leg back
4. lean slightly forward with you chest ahead of your hips, and focus on the victim when
you enter the water
5. squeeze or scissor your legs together right after they make contact with the water for
upward thrust
6. focus on the victim and begin your approach
compact jump entry - Answers- this can be used from the deck or from a height,
depending on the depth of the water; above 3 feet from the surface of the water, the
water should be at least 5 feet deep:
1. squeeze the rescue tube high against your chest with the tube under your armpits
2. hold the excess line to keep it from getting caught in the lifeguard chair or other
equipment when jumping into the water
3. jump out and away from the lifeguard chair, pool deck or pier. in a wave pool, time the
jump to land on the crest of the wave
4. bend your knees and keep your feet together and flat to absorb the shock if you hit
the bottom. do not point your toes or keep your legs straight or stiff
5. let the buoyancy of the rescue tube bring you back to the surface
6. focus on the victim and begin your approach
, run and swim entry - Answers- enter the water from a gradual slope-zero depth area
such as a shoreline or wave pool:
1. hold the rescue tube and excess line above the water, lift your knees high while
running to avoid falling
2. once you cant run anymore, put the tube across your chest and begin swimming;
dont dive into shallow water
front crawl approach - Answers- with the rescue tube under your armpits/torso, in
control, front crawl towards the victim
breaststroke approach - Answers- with the rescue tube under your armpits/torso, in
control, breaststroke towards the victim
long distance approach - Answers- allow the rescue tube to trail behind you and
reposition it in front of you before contacting the victim
walking approach - Answers- in shallow water, hold the tube beside you and walk
quickly, repositioning the tube before contacting the victim
simple assist - Answers- used in shallow water; helping a person to stand, or
submerged victims that are within reach:
1. approach the person who needs help while keeping the rescue tube between you and
the person
2. reach across the tube and grasp the person at the armpit to help the person maintain
his or her balance: if the person is underwater grasp the person under the armpits with
both hands and help him or her stand up
3. assist the person to the exit point
active victim rear rescue - Answers- used for a drowning victim who is facing away from
you:
1. approach the victim from behind with the rescue tube across your chest
2. with both arms, reach under the victim's armpits and grasp the shoulders firmly. tell
them you are here to help
3. using your chest, squeeze the rescue tube between your chest and the victims back
4. keep your head to one side to avoid being hit by the victims head if it moves
backwards
5. lean back and pull the victim onto the rescue tube
6. use the rescue tube to support the victim so that the victims mouth and nose are out
of the water
7. tow the victim to a safe exit
passive victim rear rescue - Answers- used for a drowning victim who is face-down
near the surface without a suspected head, neck or spinal injury:
1. approach a face-down victim from behind with the rescue tube across your chest
2. with both arms, reach under the victim's armpits and grasp the shoulders firmly. you
may be high on the victims back when doing this
