Red Cross Lifeguard Test Answers 2022

As the only lifeguard performing CPR on a & year old child, you would perform cycles of:

Answer: 30 chest compressions and 2 ventilations

Which of the following would you identify as the universal sign that a conscious person is choking?

Answer: Clutching the throat

The patron asks, “Should we move them to the first aid room?” What should you do next?

Answer: Tell the patron the victim should not be moved since there is no immediate danger.

How can you best protect yourself from possible bloodborne pathogen transmission when providing care?

Answer: Use protective equipment, such as disposable gloves and a breathing barrier, when providing care.

A patron has slurred speech, is unable to lift their right arm level with their left arm and is unable to smile without one side of their face drooping. These are symptoms of:

Answer: Stroke

You are walking on the pool deck when the swim team coach suddenly collapses in front of you. 

During your primary assessment, you find that the victim doesn’t have a pulse. You should:

Answer: Immediately begin CPR using cycles of 30 compressions followed by 2 ventilations.

Which of the following is most essential to use when giving ventilations to protect you and the victim from disease transmission?

Answer: resuscitation masks

You are giving ventilations to a 5 year old child using a resuscitation mask. You should give 1 ventilation about every:

Answer: 3 seconds

You are providing care to an adult who is unresponsive and not breathing as a result of a drowning. You give your first ventilation before performing CPR and notice that the chest doesn’t rise. Which of the following should you do next?

Answer: Re-tilt the victim’s head and then attempt another ventilation.

A patron seems to be having a diabetic emergency. You should:

Answer: Give them a glucose tablets.

Wile preparing to use an AED on a victim, you notice a medication patch on the victim’s chest. Which action is appropriate?

Answer: Removing the patch with a gloved hand.

Which of the following statements about BVMs is most accurate?

Answer: Ventilations are more effective when 2 rescuers operate the BVM.

…complete a primary assessment and find that the victim has a pulse but is not breathing. Which of the following should you do next?

Answer: give ventilations at a rate of 1 about every 5-6 seconds

You and another lifeguard are preparing for CPR on an adult who collapsed in the locker room. You determine that there is no breathing or pulse and state, “Victim has no pulse. Begin CPR.” Which of the following should the other lifeguard do next?

Answer: begin chest compressions

A patron has cut their leg on the edge of the bleachers and is bleeding heavily. You think the patron is in shock because they:

Answer: Become reckless and irritable.

A person has been injured and is responsive. You obtain consent to check the victim for life threatening conditions. What life-threatening conditions would require you to immediately summon EMS personnel?

Answer: persistent chest pain

You determine that a victim is unresponsive but breathing. While waiting with the victim for EMS personnel, you would position the victim:

Answer: 

in a recovery position

An AED indicates that “no shock is advised”. Which of the following is most appropriate to do next ?

Answer: Perform CPR for about 2 minutes.

If a victim is having a seizure in the water:

Answer: Support the victim with their head above water until the seizure ends.

You arrive on a scene where someone seems to be hurt. During the primary assessment, you should check for all of the following EXCEPT:

Answer: Swelling

When using an AED, which of the following should you do immediately after attaching the AED pads to the victim’s chest?

Answer: Tell everyone to stand clear.

Which of the following should you do first when approaching the scene of an emergency?

Answer: Size-up the scene while forming an initial impression.

You are providing care to a conscious infant who is choking. When giving chest thrusts, which of the following would you see?

Answer: 2 or 3 fingers

During a primary assessment, which of the following should you check first?

Answer: Responsiveness

You are performing CPR on a victim and an assisting responder arrives. Which of the following is most appropriate for the assisting responder to do first?

Answer: Check to see whether EMS personnel have been called.

When giving abdominal thrusts to an adult who is chocking, where should you position your fist?

Answer: In the middle of the abdomen, just above the navel.

Your initial impression reveals severe life threatening bleeding in an adult victim who appears to be unresponsive. YOur next step should be:

Answer: Control the bleeding with any available resources.

An injured patron is responsive and bleeding. After summoning EMS personnel, obtaining consent and putting on disposable gloves, what is your next care step?

Answer: Press firmly against the wound w/ a sterile dressing and bamdage.

Let the wound bleed until it stops on its own.

Answer: check for responsiveness.

What is the 1 step your should take in caring for a victim with burns?

Answer: Remove the victim from the source of the burn

.

You are providing care to a patron who started chocking on some food. The victim becomes unresponsive. Which of the following should you do first?

Answer: Lower the victim to the ground and begin CPR starting w/ chest compressions.

AS you are giving ventilations with a resuscitation mask, the victim vomits. Which of the following would you do first?

Answer: Turn the victim onto their side and clear the airway of the vomit immediately.

Based on which of the following signs and symptoms would you determine that a victim is experiencing respiratory distress?

Answer: Gasping for breath

A way to remember the questions to ask when taking a brief history is to use the acronym SAMPLE. What does the S in SAMPLE stand for?

Answer: signs and symptoms

Which of the following statements about performing CPR w/ 2 or more rescuers is true?

Answer: To redue rescuer fatigue, rescuers should switch positions about every 2 minutes or when the AED is analyzing.

You and a fellow lifeguard are giving ventilations using a BVM. You position the mask over the victims’s mouth and nose. What should the other lifeguard do?

Answer: Squeeze the bag with both hands.

To ensure high- quality CPR and high- quality chest compressions, you should:

Answer: Expose the victim’s chest to ensure proper hand placement and full chest recoil.

Which of the following finding would lead you to determine that an infant’s airway is open and not obstructed?

Answer: The infant is crying uncontrollably.

When giving chest compressions to an adult, how would you position your hands?

Answer: Heel of one hand on the center of the chest with the other hand on top

A 12 yr old child at a swim meet grabs their chest and begins to make wheezing noises. After you obtain consent to provide care, the child’s parent informs you that the child has a history of asthma, but doesn;t have an inhaler nearby. What care should you provide?

Answer: Summon more advanced medical personnel and place the victim into a position that helps breathing.

How can you best protect yourself from possible

bloodborne pathogen transmission when

providing care?

Answer: d. Use personal protective equipment (PPE),

such as disposable gloves and a breathing

barrier, when providing care.

A 12-year-old boy at a swim meet grabs his chest

and begins to make wheezing noises. After you

obtain consent to provide care, his mother informs

you that he has a history of asthma, but does not

have his inhaler nearby. What care should

you provide?

Answer: b. Summon more advanced medical personnel

and place the victim into a position that

While having a snack in the concession area, a

child suddenly clutches his throat with both hands.

You ask him if he is choking and he frantically nods

yes. You activate your facility’s emergency action

plan (EAP). You identify yourself as a lifeguard and

obtain consent from the parents. What should you

do next?

Answer: d. Stand or kneel behind the victim and give

5 back blows and 5 abdominal thrusts.

You and another lifeguard find an unconscious

adult on the floor in the locker room. You activate

your facility’s EAP, size-up the scene and perform

a primary assessment. You find the victim is not

moving or breathing, but has a pulse. You should

summon EMS personnel, then:

Answer: a. Give 1 rescue breath about every 5 seconds.

You come upon a scene where a patron appears to

be injured. Before approaching the victim, which of

the following will you not do as you size-up

the scene?

Answer: c. Begin the primary assessment.

When providing care during an emergency, which

of the following should you do first?

Answer: c. Size-up the scene.

As the first lifeguard on the scene, you are

performing CPR on an adult. When performing

chest compressions, how deeply should you

compress the chest?

Answer: d. At least 2 inches

CPR should be performed on which of the

following victims?

Answer: c. One who is in cardiac arrest

What is the first step of the Cardiac Chain

of Survival?

Answer: d. Early recognition and access to the emergency medical services (EMS) system

You are providing care to a victim having a heart

attack. Which of the following would you do first?

Answer: d. Summon EMS personnel.

Once you have turned on the automated external defibrillator (AED), you should:

Answer: a. Apply the pads and allow the AED to analyze

the heart rhythm.

To ensure effective chest compressions during

CPR, which of the following is most appropriate?

Answer: a. Allowing the chest to fully recoil

between compressions

You are performing CPR on a victim and a second

lifeguard arrives. Which of the following is most

appropriate for the second lifeguard to do first?

Answer: c. Check to see whether EMS personnel have

been called.

Which of the following is most essential to use

when giving ventilations to protect you and the

victim from disease transmission?

Answer: a. CPR breathing barriers

You are providing care to a facility maintenance

worker who has fallen off the top of a ladder. The

victim is conscious. Which of the following should

you do first?

Answer: c. Obtain consent from the victim to

provide care.

For which of the following should you summon

EMS personnel?

Answer: d. A victim with an open leg wound with the

bone protruding

You pull an unconscious adult from the water who is taking infrequent gasps. During the primary assessment you find that the victim has a pulse. What should you do next?

Answer: d. Give 2 initial ventilations.

If there is a risk of the AED pads touching each

other, such as with a small child or an infant, you should:

Answer: a. Place one pad in the middle of the chest and

the other on the back.

You have sized up the scene and determined

the scene is safe. When performing a primary

assessment, which of the following would you

do next?

Answer: a. Check for responsiveness

Which of the following statements about

bag-valve-mask resuscitators (BVMs) is

most accurate?

Answer: c. Two rescuers need to operate the BVM.

You are preparing to give ventilations to a

5-year-old boy using a resuscitation mask. You

should give 1 ventilation about every:

Answer: c. 3 seconds

When compressing a child’s chest during CPR, you

should compress at a rate of at least how many

compressions per minute?

Answer: b. 100

An AED has advised that a shock should be given.

Which of the following is appropriate?

Answer: d. Tell everyone to stand clear of the victim.

You are about to apply AED pads to a victim’s chest

when you notice that the victim has several body

piercings with jewelry on his chest. Which of the

following should you do?

Answer: a. Apply the pads to the chest, making sure to

avoid the jewelry.

The cycle of chest compressions and ventilations in

two-rescuer CPR for an infant is:

Answer: b. 15 chest compressions and 2 ventilations.

You are positioned above the child’s head and are using a resuscitation mask to give ventilations. After you position the mask, which of the following

should you do next?

Answer: d. Seal the mask.

You are providing care to a patron who started

choking on some food. The victim becomes

unconscious. Which of the following should you

do first?

Answer: b. Lower the victim carefully to the ground and

open his airway.

Where should you place your hands when giving

chest compressions to an infant during CPR?

Answer: c. One hand on the forehead and one hand on

the chest

When giving abdominal thrusts to an adult, where should you position your fist?

Answer: d. On the rib cage

When providing care to a conscious infant

who is choking, which of the following is

most appropriate?

Answer: Positioning the infant so the head is lower than

the chest

A person has been injured and is conscious.

You should:

Answer: b. Obtain consent, check the victim for

life-threatening conditions and speak with

the victim to find out what happened.

The purpose of the secondary assessment is to:

Answer: b. Identify and care for conditions that are not

life threatening.

An injured patron is conscious and bleeding

severely. After summoning EMS personnel,

obtaining consent and putting on disposable

gloves, what is your next care step?

Answer: d. Press firmly against the wound with a sterile

dressing and bandage.

A way to remember the questions to ask when

taking a brief history is to use the acronym

SAMPLE. What does the A in SAMPLE stand for?

Answer: c. Allergies

What is the first step you should take in caring for a victim with burns?

Answer: c. Remove the victim from the source of

the burn.

If a victim is having a seizure in the water:

Answer: d. Support the victim with his or her head above

water until the seizure ends.

During a swim meet, the bleachers behind your

guard station suddenly collapse. As you check

the scene, you notice several people who appear

injured. Who should you approach first?

Answer: b. A man who appears unconscious.

When caring for musculoskeletal injuries, what

does RICE stand for?

Answer: a. Rest, immobilize, cold, elevate

Signs and symptoms of sudden illness do

not include:

Answer: c. Bruising or rigidness of the abdomen.

What does the C stand for in LOC?

Answer: c. Consciousness.

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: b. A passive victim who needs help.

Primary responsibilities of a lifeguard include:

Answer: c. Inspecting the pool and rescue equipment

before the facility opens and paying close

attention to patrons in the water by actively

scanning the assigned area. b. Move the victim directly onto a backboard.

3. A man is unexpectedly pushed from behind and falls from the deck into the water and is in distress. After you activate the emergency action plan (EAP), what are included in your next steps.

Answer:d. Extend a rescue tube to him while remaining

on deck, then provide any additional care.

Which of the following is a primary responsibility of a lifeguard?

Answer:a. Enforcing facility rules and regulations and

educating patrons about them

5. For a head, neck or spinal injury in deep water:

Answer:a. Minimize movement of the victim’s head and

neck using the head splint technique.

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:c. 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.

7. While scanning the pool, you witness a patron

struggling while swimming and then go under

water. Which of the following applies?

Answer:a. You have duty to act and perform the

appropriate rescue.

A lifeguard can no longer see some of the patrons at one side of the swimming area from his station because of glare from the afternoon sun. To maintain effective patron surveillance, the lifeguard should:

Answer:a. Adjust his position slightly to remove the glare

spot from his surveillance area.

A patron starts running on the deck. You blow your whistle to get her attention. Next, you enforce the rules and regulations by:

Answer:c. Telling her she could slip or fall and she must

walk on the deck.

When caring for a suspected head, neck or

spinal injury in water, proper manual in-line

stabilization is:

Answer:b. Provided using the head splint technique.

Working with other lifeguards, facility staff and

supervisors as a team is:

Answer:b. One of the primary responsibilities of

a lifeguard.

You are a lifeguard on surveillance duty during a

busy family swim session. It is important to:

Answer:b. Scan all areas in your assigned zone of

coverage and carry your rescue tube with you

at all times.

13. A head, neck or spinal injury rarely happens:

Answer:a. In deep water at a supervised facility.

Which of the following is true about accidental

fecal releases (AFRs)?

Answer:c. Require water treatment, temporary pool

closure and immediate lifeguard attention.

You are lifeguarding during a family swim session when you notice a swimmer swimming full lengths of the pool under water. What should you do?

Answer:c. Immediately stop him from continuing the

activity and explain the dangers of the activity.

After removing a conscious victim you suspect has a spinal injury from the water, you should do all the following except:

Answer:c. Dry the victim off and apply the pads of

an AED.

17. Two lifeguards are on surveillance duty during a public swim. You are on a break. One lifeguard activates the facility’s EAP for a submerged passive victim and enters the water. Which steps should you take next to assist in the rescue?

Answer:b. Bring the backboard to the lifeguard and assist

in removing the victim from the water as the

other lifeguard clears the pool.

A lifeguard keeps an eye on the patrons of the pool, checking the bottom, middle and surface of the water. He is demonstrating:

Answer:b. Effective scanning.

A mother and her son walk over to you; she states that he fell on the pool deck and hit his head. You notice he has blood and fluid running from his ear and he is feeling dizzy. What steps should you take next?

Answer:d. Provide manual stabilization while the other

lifeguards prepare to backboard him.

The lifeguard supervisor expects the pool to be

very busy in the afternoon. For effective patron

surveillance, she sets up multiple lifeguard stations to reduce the number of patrons watched by each lifeguard. This type of coverage is called:

Answer:d. Zone coverage.

To effectively scan, you must:

Answer:d. Move your head and eyes as you scan to look

directly at each area rather than staring in a

fixed direction.

what equipment should be worn or carried by a lifeguard at all times while on duty? List 2 and include reasons why.

Answer:1) rescue tube – can keep multiple victims afloat

2) hip-pack with gloves and resuscitation mask – needs to be instantly available incase of an emergency

what safety equipment/items should be easily accessible for a lifeguard? list at least 2 and describe how/when each item is used.

Answer:1) backboard – removes victim from water when they can’t do it themselves

2) AED – helps heart reestablish an affective rhythm

As a lifeguard you are responsible for:

Answer:consistently enforcing your facility’s rules and regulations

list 5 common rules often posted at an aquatic facility.

Answer:1. swim only when lifeguard is on duty

    2. no swimming with open or infected wounds

   3. no running, pushing, or rough play

   4. obey lifeguard instruction

           5. dive only in designated areas

list three things that can help determine if a life jacket is appropriate for use

Answer: 1. U.S. coastguard approved

   2. no shrinkage of bouyant material

   3. buckles and straps in good working condition

   4. no rips, tears, or holes

many facilities have unique challenges that demand different kinds of surveillance. For each situation listed below, list 2 guidelines you should keep in mind when providing surveillance for patrons

1. guarding areas for young children

2. play structures

Answer:guarding young children:

1. watch for children becoming too hot or cold

2. toddlers may fall and not be able to right themselves in shallow waterplay structures:

1. do not allow patrons to swim underneath structures

2. pay close attention to moving water as it can take people by surprise

identify three strategies for ensuring safe group visits

Answer:1. classification of swimming abilities (swim test)

2. safety orientation

3. identification of group leaders/chaperones

why is it important to educate your patrons about safety in, on, and around the water

Answer:to keep them safe and make sure they know the facility policies

describe the swim test steps:

Answer:1. enter the water and completely submerge

2. return to the surface and remain there for at least 1 minute

3. rotate 360 degree and orient towards the exit

4. swim on front or back for at least 25 yards

5. exit water

why should an EAP be facility specific

Answer:– different layouts

– different EMS response times

– different emergencies require different responses

provide three examples of situation-based EAPs

Answer:1. land emergency – injury or illness

2. water emergency – drowning victim – passive

3. water emergency – drowning victim – active

place the following EAP actions in order for a situation where the victim is responsive and doesn’t require additional care:

Rescue

Equipment check/corrective action

signal

return to duty

report, advise, release

Answer:1. signal

2. rescue

3. report, advise, release

4. equipment check/corrective action

5. return to duty

what should other lifeguards do during a rescue where the victim is unresponsive and requires addtional care

Answer:1. back-up surviellance

2. water or land rescues and provide emergency care

3. clear area

what should additional safety team members do during a rescue where the victim is unresponsive and requires addtional care

Answer:1. clear the zone

2. summon EMS personnel

3. bringing additional equipment

4. controlling the crowd

5. meeting EMS personnel

when completing a report, you should:

cAnswer:ollect only factual information about what seen, heard, and done

who should deal with questions from the media after an incident?

Answer:the facility manager and company spokesperson

why might a supervisor chose not to re-open a facility that was closed during an emergency

Answer:– contaminated surfaces (blood)

– missing or damaged equipment (EMS takes backboard)

members of the safety team, including non-lifeguard personnel, should be:

Answer:trained and certified in first aid and CPR/AED at the same level of the lifeguard team

after an emergency has been resolved, there are still three important tasks to complete. explain them.

Answer:*Report:* the person who made the rescue must complete the form recording only factual information of what was seen, heard, or done

*Advise:* safety instructions to prevent similar incident from recurring, recommend that they go to the doctor

*Release:* victim may be released after emergency care is provided or release care to EMS personnel

describe three places emergencies could occur besides the pool and the pool deck

Answer:– locker room

– parking lot

– playground

touching soiled dressings that are contaminated with potentially infectious material is an example of:

a. indirect contact

b. direct contact

c. droplet contact

d. vector-borne contact

Answer: a

examples of work practice controls (methods of working that reduce likely hood of an exposure)

a. disposing of sharp items in a puncture resistant, leak-proof, labeled container

b. removal and proper disposal of soiled protective clothing as soon as possible

c. cleaning/disinfecting all equipment and work surfaces possibly soiled by blood or other potentially infectious material

d. all of the above

Answer: D

the OSHA recommened solution to use for disinfecting contaminated or soiled equipment and surfaces is:

a. 4 cups of bleach per gallon of water

b. 1 cup of ammonia per gallon of water

c. 1/4 cup of antibacterial soap per gallon of water

d. 1 part bleach per 9 parts of water

Answer:D

describe six actions you should take or determinations that you should make while performing a scene size-up

Answer: 1. check for hazards that could present a danger to you or the victim

               2. use appropriate PPE

               3. determine number of injured or ill victims

               4. determine nature of illness or what caused injury

               5. form an initial impression like whether or not it’s life-threatening

               6. determine what additional resources may be needed

place the following general procedures for injury or sudden illness on land in order:

perform a primary assessment

provide care for conditions found

summon EMS, if needed and not already done

size up the scene

report, advise, and release

perform a secondary assessment

Abdominal Action Activities Aid

American association heart American Heart

Answer:1. size up the scene

    2. perform a primary assessment

3. summon EMS, if needed and not already done

4. perform a secondary assessment

5. provide care for conditions found

6. report, advise, and release

fill in the blank – ______________ is a life-threatening condition that occurs when the body’s systems are overwhelmed by heat and stop functioning. list three signs and symptoms of the condition described above.

Answer:heat stroke

—

1. Changes in LOC

2. Skin that is hot to the touch

3. Skin that is wet or dry or appears red or pale

4. Vision disturbances

Head, neck or spinal injuries often are caused by high-impact/high-risk activities. What are examples of those activities in an aquatic environment?

Answer:– entering head-first into shallow water

– falling from greater than standing height

– entering the water from a height, such as a diving board, water slide, embankment, cliff, or tower

– receiving a blow to the head

– colliding with another swimmer

General rescue procedures for caring for a head, neck, or spinal injury in the water in order:

check for responsiveness and breathing

activate the EAP

perform a rescue providing manual in-line stabilization

re-assess the victim’s condition and provide appropriate care

safely enter the water

remove the victim from the water using appropriate spinal back boarding procedure

Answer:1. activate the EAP

2. safely enter the water

3. perform a rescue providing manual in-line stabilization

4. check for responsiveness and breathing

5. remove the victim from the water using appropriate spinal back boarding procedure

6. re-assess the victim’s condition and provide appropriate care

the ____________ technique is used for performing manual in-line stabilization for victims in the water

Answer:head splint

backboards are a standard piece of rescue equipment used at aquatic facilities for immobilizing and removing the victim from the water. Backboards work best when they are equipped with:

Answer:– a chest strap to secure the victim onto the board

– a head immobilizer device that can be attached to the top, or head-end , of the board

you enter the water to rescue a victim with a suspected spinal injury. You determine that the victim is not breathing. What should you do next?

a. remove the victim from the water using the passive victim extrication technique

b. remove the victim from the water using the spinal back boarding procedure

c. remove the victim from the water using a modified spinal back boarding procedure

d. delay removal from the water and provide 2 minutes of in-water ventilations

Answer: A

the following statements describe appropriate rescue techniques for a victim with a suspected spinal injury, EXCEPT:

a. if the victim is in shallow water, you do not need to use a rescue tube to support yourself

b. if the victim is in shallow water, you should not use the rescue tube when submerging and bringing the victim to the surface

c. if the victim is small and is in shallow water, you do not need to use a backboard to extricate the victim

d. if the victim is at the surface in deep water, you may need a rescue tube to support yourself and the victim

Answer: C

when rescuing a victim of a suspected head, neck or spinal injury using the spinal back boarding procedure , communication with the victim is important. what should lifeguards tell the victim?

Answer:– let the victim know what you are doing and reassure them

             – tell the victim not to nod or shake their head but instead answer with “Yes” or “No”

describe four ways that additional lifeguards can help during spinal back boarding and extrication from the water

Answer:– helping to submerge, position and stabilize the backboard from the deck

– supporting the in-water rescuer in deep water

– communicating and reassuring the victim

– removing the backboard from the water