Star Guard Elite Exam

while on station lifeguarding, what will occupy the majority of your time?

searching the water

what is a crucially important fact for lifeguards to be aware of at all times?

drowning can happen quickly and silently to anyone at any time

swimmers should not be allowed to participate in contests involving extended breath holding or underwater swimming

true

what does RWI stand for?

recreational water illness

if a break in your skin comes into contact with the bodily fluids of another person, what is the first thing you should do?

wash the area with soap and water

what should you assume about other people's blood and bodily fluids?

the fluids are potentially infectious

how long has the parasite cryptosporidium been known to survive in properly maintained swimming pool water?

up to 11 days

why is disease more likely to be transmitted through loose stools (diarrhea) rather than a solid stool?

diarrhea can contain millions of germs that spread quickly through the water

which is the correct description of drowning?

drowning is a process with three possible outcomes: survival without brain damage, survival with brain damage, or death.

what is the difference between distress and drowning?

a drowning person's mouth and nose are covered wit water, and the head cannot be brought to the surface to breathe.

what would be the correct term to use if a person experienced a drowning incident, but was resuscitated and did not die?

non-fatal drowning

what determines whether water is shallow or not?

a person's height

which organs are at greatest risk for permanent damage during drowning?

brain and heart

why might an unresponsive person appear to be moving or appear to move location in the water?

movement of the water created by others or pool currents may cause an unresponsive person to move

why is it important to begin rescue breathing for an unresponsive drowning person as quickly as possible?

to prevent or minimize brain damage

if you are providing constant and dedicated surveillance, how often should you watch your zone?

all of the time, and no other assigned tasks should intrude

the length of time a person is submerged is the most important predictor of survival

true

what is scanning?

searching the water in a systematic way

if an unresponsive drowning person may look similar to people who are floating or are underwater and are okay, what can you do to tell them apart

look to see that the person lifts his or her head to breathe within a few seconds (look for life)

what are the components of the STAAR aquatic rescue model?

scan, target, assess, alert, rescue

which is true about

what is the most important thing to do when calling 911 or your local emergency number?

listen carefully to the dispatcher

which is an accurate statement about how to make a front rescue?

push the rescue tube firmly into the person's chest

in addition to being specific for each facility and type of emergency, what is another characteristic of a good emergency action plan (EAP)?

it is practiced using realistic scenarios

which entry method has the lowest risk of back, leg, or foot injury and is useful in a wide range of water depths and circumstances?

compact jump

in addition to limiting upper body contact and keeping the hands free, what is another benefit of a leg-wrap rescue?

a rescuer doesn't have to submerge as deeply as with other methods

what is important to do before releasing a person back into the facility?

instruct the person to watch for excessive coughing, difficulty breathing, or any other worrisome symptoms that develop within 8 hours after the incident and to seek medical care immediately if these develop

strapping a person on a backboard and placing head immobilization devices (HIDs) for the sole purpose of immobilizing the spine is NOT an evidence-based practice

true

in addition to head, neck, or back pain; intoxication; altered mental status; and numbness or tingling, which additional symptom indicates the potential for spinal injury?

serious trauma anywhere on the body

which term may be used to describe a person who is experiencing any or all of these symptoms" confusion, slowed thinking, loss of balance, impaired vision?

altered mental status

how is active spinal motion restriction provided?

manually hold the person's head to limit movement

how is passive spinal motion restriction provided?

tell the person not to make any movements that cause pain and guide their head to a seated or lying position

where can passive and active spinal motion restriction be performed?

on the land and in water

you are providing care to a responsive person who has been injured and is bleeding from a wound in the leg. what should you do to control the bleeding?

apply direct pressure with an absorbent pad until the bleeding stops

you have helped a person with asthma to use a prescribed metered-dose inhaler. ten minutes later, the person is bent over and can't stop coughing. what should you do?

activate EMS

you're attending to a person who is unresponsive but is breathing normally after a suspected overdose of pain medication. EMS has been activated. You have placed the person in recovery position. why?

to maintain and protect the airway

what is sudden cardiac arrest (SCA)?

malfunction in the heart's electrical system

you find one of your coworkers sitting in the break room alone. his skin is pale and sweaty. when you ask if he is okay, he tells you it feels like a heavy weight is on his chest. he also tells you that he is having trouble catching his breath. what should you do?

allow him to find a position of comfort and activate EMS

You are called to attend to a coworker who collapsed while lifeguarding on a hot day. he has an altered mental status and his skin is hot and sweaty. EMS has been activated/ what should you do?

aggressively cool his body by pouring water, fanning, and applying ice packs

what is secondary cardiac arrest?

heart stoppage resulting from lack of oxygen

chest compressions should be administered to adults, children, and infants at what rate?

at least 100 but not more than 120 times per minute

when two or more rescuers are administering CPR to a child, rescue breaths should be given after how many compressions?

15 compressions

how can you tell if rescue breaths are going into a persons lungs?

the chest will visibly rise

if you are caring for an unresponsive drowning person and foam is coming from the person's

breathe through the foam

when giving compressions, how should you position your hands, arms, and shoulders?

in line, with the arms straight, the elbows locked, and the shoulders over the hands

in addition to vomiting and having a swollen looking stomach, what is likely to happen to a person who has drowned and is unresponsive?

the person will have foam coming out of their mouth

how many initial rescue breaths should be given upon contact with an unresponsive drowning person?

5

what does 3 points of contact refer to?

maintaining contact with two hands and one foot or two feet and one hand when climbing up or down from a lifeguard station

twirling a whistle takes away from a professional image

true

when might an animal be allowed on the pool deck?

the animal is trained to assist a person who has a medical condition or disability

when are inspections of slides and attractions usually conducted?

daily, before a facility opens

what is a zero depth entry at an aquatic facility?

the area that resembles a beach shoreline

what is the E-stop?

a button or switch that shuts down the wave action or water flow

how is an appropriate slide dispatch rate determined?

length of time needed to prevent a collision

what is the most common source of waterslide injury?

impact with another person, the slide, or the ground

what is an SOP for an attraction at a waterpark?

standard operating procedure

when should you give verbal instructions guests using a waterslide?

every rider, every time

in the event of an unresponsive person in a wave pool, why might extrication times be longer than in a traditional pool?

larger area, crowded conditions, and possible wave action

why might you need to walk or stand while scanning at a waterpark attraction?

to be able to see around curves, play structures, or waterfalls

which of the following will have the most influence on the impression that the guests have of their experience at a waterpark?

the professional image and example set by the lifeguards.

what is turbid water?

water that is mirky or dark

frequent site inspections at waterfront areas are important because conditions often change over time

true

why might it be helpful to a lifeguard to have a mask, fins, and a snorkel gear at waterfronts?

this equipment will help a lifeguard to see better during underwater searches

what is a good prevention and surveillance strategy for waterfronts where docks or floating platforms are present?

prohibit people from swimming under docks or platforms to less than 30 seconds

when feasible, non-swimmers in waterfront settings should be restricted to water that is less than what depth?

waist to chest deep

when you are screening patrons to determine if they should be assigned to swimming or non-swimming areas, what should you have them do?

demonstrate swimming ability that is appropriate for the activity

what should you do while performing a bottom search wearing goggles or mask, a snorkel, and fins?

keep your hands forward and sweep them to the sides to feel for a person

when can a one rescuer assist be used for extricating a person to the shoreline?

if the person is unresponsive and can walk

what is the purpose of a swim skills test?

identify people who cant keep their heads comfortably above the water

a missing-person emergency action plan should include a specific signal, how responders will be staged, and how searchers will be assinged.

true

which type of regulator should be used to meet requirements for an oxygen system to be approved for emergency use in the united states?

fixed flow regulator

when attached to an oxygen cylinder, what does the regulator control?

rate of oxygen flow

what is an important safe-handling practice for emergency oxygen systems?

do not use oil, grease, or adhesive tape on or near the system

why must emergency oxygen be stored away from heat, spark, flame, and explosive environments?

it is a compressed gas that supports combustion when flame or spark are present

when available, why is it beneficial to administer emergency oxygen to a person who is unresponsive due to drowning?

it increases the amount of oxygen delivered to a person

which of the following is needed to connect the tubing on a bag valve mask (BVM) or CPR mask to an emergency oxygen system?

inlet port

why should the valve on the oxygen system be cracked (opened slightly, then closed) before attaching the regulator?

to expel foreign matter from the outlet port of the valve

in the united states, what distinguishes a medical oxygen system from an emergency oxygen system?

a prescription is required for medical oxygen but not for an emergency oxygen system

what is the function of the indicator gauge on an emergency oxygen system?

shows how much oxygen is in the cylinder

when storing an emergency oxygen system, what condition should be avoided?

extreme temperatures