Lifeguard Test- Study Guide

Recognition & Response

Friday, March 26
Chapter 1
The primary responsibility of a professional lifeguard is to ensure patron safety
and protect lives.
Preventing injuries by minimizing or eliminating hazardous situations or
behaviors.
Enforcing rules and regulations
Respond quickly to all emergencies
Administer first aid, CPR/AED
Communicating- when more help or equipment is needed
Secondary responsibilities of a LG are the other tasks they are responsible
for:
Secondary responsibilities must NEVER prevent the LG from meeting his/her
primary responsibility.
Performing maintenance (pool chemistry, equipment checks, vacuum and
clean)
Secondary responsibilities can include
Filling out required records and reports
Performing maintenance (pool chemistry, equipment checks, vacuum and
clean)
Inspecting the facility daily and reporting any unsafe conditions to supervisor.
Decision Making

Decision making can be difficult, especially in an emergency

F Figure out the problem

I - Identify possible solutions
N Name the pros & cons for each solution
D Decide which solution is best

Legal Considerations
Duty to act

Standard of care
Negligence
Good Samaritan laws
Consent

Refusal of care
Abandonment
Confidentiality

Documentation
Duty to Act

As a professional rescuer you have a duty to act at the scene of an

emergency.

Scope of Practice-you may act in w/in what you you were trained for
Negligence

Failing to provide care

Providing care beyond your level of training

Providing inappropriate care

Failing to control or stop any behaviors that could result in further harm or
injury
Consent

State your name

Tell the victim you are trained to help & what level
Ask the victim if you can help
Explain what you planned to do
Battery-touching a person without consent

Refusal of Care

Some injured or ill may refuse care

You must honor their wishes

A parent can refuse care for a minor

Advanced Directives

Written instructions regarding medical treatment: DNRs, living wills.

Confidentiality- you may learn something about the victim that is private
and confidential. Do not share this info, except with EMS personnel.
Chapter 2
Preventing Injuries: Patron Safety

Risk management identifying dangerous conditions/behaviors that can

cause injury and then taking steps to minimize them.


Preventive lifeguarding-Most time will be spent on trying to make sure
emergencies dont happen.
Examples of Life-threatening Injuries

Submersion (nonfatal/drowning)

Injuries to the head, neck or back (spinal injuries)

Unconsciousness

Breathing emergencies

Cardiac emergencies

Severe bleeding
Emergencies

The two most serious aquatic emergencies to prevent are drowning and
head, neck or back injuries.

Drowning- happens when a person suffocates in the water.

How are patrons informed of a
potential injury at an aquatic facility?
Rules and Regulations

Lifeguards need to understand the rules and regulations of the facility

where they work.

Rules do not keep patrons from having fun, but are for everyones health
and safety.
Safety Checks
Safety checks are conducted

Before opening the facility.

During daily operations.
At closing.
If you find an unsafe an unsafe condition, correct it if possible before the
facility opens. If you cannot correct the problem, tell the LG supervisor
immediately.

Safety Checks

While you are conducting a safety check, you find a large crack on the
pool deck near the deep end. You should

Answer: Close off the area and tell the lifeguard supervisor right away.
Weather Conditions

Lightning and thunderstorms happen more often in the summer.

In the event of thunder and lightning, lifeguards should

Clear everyone from the water at the first sound of thunder or first sight of
lightning.
Patron Surveillance

A lifeguards primary responsibility is to ensure patron safety and protect

lives.

The primary tool to accomplish that function is patron surveillance

keeping a close watch over people in the facility.

You will spend most of your time on patron surveillance.

You must be alert and attentive at all times

Chapter 3
The RID Factor

Most drownings at supervised swim areas happen when neither lifeguards

nor patrons notice that a victim has slipped below the surface.

RID
Recognition
Intrusion
Distraction

Emergency Action Plans (EAPs)

EAPs are detailed plans describing everyones responsibilities in an

emergency and should be in the facilitys policies and procedures manual.

EAPs should be practiced regularly during orientation and in-service

training sessions.