Lifeguarding Study Guide -- Lifeguarding
Skills Exam Questions and Complete
Solutions Graded A+
Primary Responsibilities of a Lifeguard - Answer: administering first aid and CPR, monitoring activities in
and near the water through patron surveillance, enforcing facility rules and regulations and educating
patrons about them, recognizing and responding quickly and effectively to all emergencies, preventing
injuries by minimizing or eliminating hazardous situations or behaviors
In-Service Trainings - Answer: practices with employer to make sure skills are up to date
How are lifeguards part of a team? - Answer: they are part of a lifeguard team (more than 2 lifeguards)
and a safety team which is larger and serves emergency situations
EAP and Lifeguard's Role - Answer: Emergency Action Plan; give the signal, retrieve safety equipment,
clear the pool, provide follow-up care
Duty to Act - Answer: while on the job, you have a legal responsibility to act in an emergency; failure to
adhere to this duty could result in legal action
Standard of Care - Answer: communicate proper info and warnings, recognize those in need of care,
attempt to rescue anyone in need, provide emergency care
Negligence - Answer: not acting as far as one could go to prevent from injury: failing to control/stop
dangerous behavior, failing to provide care, providing inappropriate care (giving stitches for regular cut),
provide care beyond level of training
Consent - Answer: an injured person must give your permission before first aid and emergency care;
consent can only be implied when victim is unconscious; child must have parent's approval
, To Obtain Consent - Answer: state your name, state your level of training, ask if you may help, explain
that you would like to assess him or her to find out what is wrong or what you can do to help, explain
what you plan to do
Refusal of Care - Answer: some injured or ill people may refuse care, even if they desperately need it;
parents also may refuse care for children
Confidentiality - Answer: people have a right to privacy about medical condiions
Abandonment - Answer: once you start care, you may not stop unless EMS personnel or someone with
equal or greater training arrives and takes over
What rescue equipment should you always carry? - Answer: rescue tubes, resuscitation masks, gloves
What equipment should you be able to easily reach? - Answer: backboad, rescue buoys, AED, first aid
kit, PPE
Why must scanning be an active process? - Answer: you must constantly check your zone for any signs
of a problem
What factors can be scanning challenges? What tactics can you use to overcome them? - Answer:
Monotony- keep attention, change body position, sit upright and forward, rotate
Blind Spots- adjust location/body position--stand up check all possible solutions
Distractions- stay focused, do not daydream, do not converse, do not look outside zone, keep patron
activities safe and orderly
Glare- sunglasses, change body position, re position station (w/ approval)
Heavy Patron Loads- stand up frequently, signal for additional assistance
Skills Exam Questions and Complete
Solutions Graded A+
Primary Responsibilities of a Lifeguard - Answer: administering first aid and CPR, monitoring activities in
and near the water through patron surveillance, enforcing facility rules and regulations and educating
patrons about them, recognizing and responding quickly and effectively to all emergencies, preventing
injuries by minimizing or eliminating hazardous situations or behaviors
In-Service Trainings - Answer: practices with employer to make sure skills are up to date
How are lifeguards part of a team? - Answer: they are part of a lifeguard team (more than 2 lifeguards)
and a safety team which is larger and serves emergency situations
EAP and Lifeguard's Role - Answer: Emergency Action Plan; give the signal, retrieve safety equipment,
clear the pool, provide follow-up care
Duty to Act - Answer: while on the job, you have a legal responsibility to act in an emergency; failure to
adhere to this duty could result in legal action
Standard of Care - Answer: communicate proper info and warnings, recognize those in need of care,
attempt to rescue anyone in need, provide emergency care
Negligence - Answer: not acting as far as one could go to prevent from injury: failing to control/stop
dangerous behavior, failing to provide care, providing inappropriate care (giving stitches for regular cut),
provide care beyond level of training
Consent - Answer: an injured person must give your permission before first aid and emergency care;
consent can only be implied when victim is unconscious; child must have parent's approval
, To Obtain Consent - Answer: state your name, state your level of training, ask if you may help, explain
that you would like to assess him or her to find out what is wrong or what you can do to help, explain
what you plan to do
Refusal of Care - Answer: some injured or ill people may refuse care, even if they desperately need it;
parents also may refuse care for children
Confidentiality - Answer: people have a right to privacy about medical condiions
Abandonment - Answer: once you start care, you may not stop unless EMS personnel or someone with
equal or greater training arrives and takes over
What rescue equipment should you always carry? - Answer: rescue tubes, resuscitation masks, gloves
What equipment should you be able to easily reach? - Answer: backboad, rescue buoys, AED, first aid
kit, PPE
Why must scanning be an active process? - Answer: you must constantly check your zone for any signs
of a problem
What factors can be scanning challenges? What tactics can you use to overcome them? - Answer:
Monotony- keep attention, change body position, sit upright and forward, rotate
Blind Spots- adjust location/body position--stand up check all possible solutions
Distractions- stay focused, do not daydream, do not converse, do not look outside zone, keep patron
activities safe and orderly
Glare- sunglasses, change body position, re position station (w/ approval)
Heavy Patron Loads- stand up frequently, signal for additional assistance
