Q 01/05

Alongside swimming and water rescue, lifeguards are trained and certified in which two emergency skills?

A) CPR/AED and first aid

B) Scuba diving and boat handling

C) Firefighting and hazmat

D) Radio operation and navigation

Answer · why

A) CPR/AED and first aid

In some communities the lifeguard service is the primary emergency medical provider.

Q 02/05

According to the 'drowning chain' model, how is a lifeguard unit's effectiveness best measured?

A) By the number of rescues made

B) By the absence or reduction of drownings

C) By the speed of each rescue

D) By the size of the beach covered

Answer · why

B) By the absence or reduction of drownings

Prevention, not reaction, is the primary focus: education, warnings, denying access, supervision and survival training.

Q 03/05

A typical lifeguard certification lasts how long before it must be renewed?

A) 6 months

B) 5 years

C) 1-2 years

D) 10 years

Answer · why

C) 1-2 years

Some certifications run up to 5 years; the initial class is usually 25-30 hours ending in a final exam.

Q 04/05

Which lifeguard water entry is the slowest, used when a spinal injury is suspected?

A) Stride jump

B) Compact jump

C) Run-and-swim

D) Slide-in

Answer · why

D) Slide-in

The stride jump needs at least five feet of water and no more than three feet of height; run-and-swim is for shallow entries.

Q 05/05

How long may an 'active drowning person', showing the instinctive drowning response, have before sinking?

A) Less than 60 seconds

B) About 5 minutes

C) About 10 minutes

D) Around 30 minutes

Answer · why

A) Less than 60 seconds

That is why lifeguards treat this behaviour as an emergency rescue rather than a shout for help.