Lifeguard Test (YMCA)

What is a manual suction device used for?

Remove foreign objects from the throat

What do you do if the AED says "no shock advised"?

Continue CPR in intervals of 2 mins or until help arrives.

What are the steps for a simple rescue in a wave pool?

don't evacuate, stay calm, activate eap

Define negligence.

failing to control or stop behavior that could result in harm or injury
-failing to provide care
-providing inappropriate care
-providing care beyond your skills // from a legal standpoint: a plaintiff must prove all elements of negligence (duty, breach, proximate cause, and damages) in order to prevail in a lawsuit against an individual or pool facility

Name the 3 stages of a tornado warning.

Watch
Warning
Siren

How do you get out of a rip-current?

swim with the current in a diagonal towards the shore

What is the Leadership Competency model?

- Mission Advancement
- Collaboration
- Operational Effectiveness
- Personal Growth
• Organized into four levels of
leadership:
- Leader
- Team Leader
- Multi-Team or
Branch Leader
- Organizational Leader

We follow our EAP & complete reports to avoid ____ after an emergency?

lawsuits

What are the causes of hypothermia?

Hypothermia is a potentially dangerous drop in body temperature, usually caused by prolonged exposure to cold temperatures. The risk of cold exposure increases as the winter months arrive.

How do you care for a heat related emergency?

give them water, put a wet towel on them

How do you stabilize a standing spinal victim?

activate EAP and get a chair so they don't fall
protect from further injury and comfort them until more advanced help arrives. if victim's condition becomes unstable (dizziness, LOC, etc), and chair not available, slowly lower victim to ground with the assistance of other lifeguards. limit excessive movement while lowering

How soon do you complete the reports after an emergency?

As soon as possible. Waiting often leads to forgetting details.

What is a 360 degree view?

How many degrees need to be guarded/scanned at a water attraction

What is required to maintain your lifeguard certs?

YMCA Lifeguarding (valid for two years)
American Safety and Health Institute CPR/AED for the Professional Rescuer (valid for one year)
American Safety and Health Institute Basic First Aid and Emergency Oxygen Administration (valid for two years)

What certification is only valid for 1 year?

CPR/AED

Where would you use a diagonal search pattern?

in currents and effective on the waterfront.

What report can a facility use to track all injuries & emergencies?

Accident/Incident report

Do we remove impaled objects from injuries?

No. Do not go further than your training

What are universal precautions? How many are there?

all employees and volunteers are required to treat all human blood or other body fluids as if it were contagious.
Universal precautions mean that you are expected to exercise work practice controls and to use personal protective
equipment when necessary.

How long does your Emergency Oxygen cert last?

2 years

What are some safety tips for boaters?

lights on boats, speed limit, etc.

What is the purpose of safety (10 min.) breaks?

To allow staff and patrons to use the restroom, and relax for a moment.

What should be in the first aid kit/trauma bag?

gloves, aed, band-aids, blankets, etc.

What is the primary responsibility of a lifeguard?

Maintain the safety of the patrons in and around the pool

What equipment do you use to mark swim areas in lakes?

flags, buoys and floats, and landlines

What report is used for any & all first aid?

accident report

What is epilepsy?

A medical condition that can result in seizures.

SAMPLE

Symptoms
Allergies
Medicine
Past medical history
Last food & drink
Events leading up

DOTS

Deformities
Open Injuries
Tenderness
Swelling

7.2-7.5 is the ideal range for what?

Recommended pH

What is HIPPA & how does it apply to lifeguarding?

Privacy of Medical Information; not to disclose any details regarding rescues among staff members or others

What is an AED & what does it stand for?

automated external defibrillator (AED) is a portable device that checks the heart rhythm and can send an electric shock to the heart to try to restore a normal rhythm. AEDs are used to treat sudden cardiac arrest (SCA)

What are the steps of the lawsuit process?

accident occurs, attorney hired by victim, attorney retains experts and lays out case based on standards, complaint filed, pretrial discovery legal questions/ statements, request to produce, trial held.

YMCA Lifeguard cert is valid for how many years?

2 years

What personal equipment should a lifeguard always have?

whistle, fanny pack, guard tube, water bottle, name tag, and mask

What do we use to indicate good swimmers vs. non-swimmers?

band!!!!!!!!!!!!!

What information do we give the 911 operator?

gender, age, what happened, don't make assumptions

Do we change our guarding tactics for classes & groups?

No you need to always be scanning and constantly

How long should it take to scan your entire zone?

10 seconds and reach in 20

Who is charge in an aquatic emergency?

primary lifeguard and ems

What technique do you use to stabilize a spinal victim?

manual head stabilization or a head-split if on backboard

What technique is a lifeguard always exhibiting while guarding?

VIGILENCE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Why do we hold regular in-services?

To practice our skills and feel more confident in an emergency.

What is the responsibility of the primary rescuer in an emergency?

Activates EAP and makes the rescue

Give an example of rule correction using Q-1-2.

Question, Warning, Ask patron to leave/ take a break. An example is someone sneaking up behind another person.

How fast can someone go from active to cardiac arrest?

3-5 minutes

What technique is used for in-water breathing?

rescue breaths and masks

What sudden physical ailment would affect a swimmers ability to swim?

a seizure, cramp, heart attack, stroke, etc.

What type of rescue requires a firm base?

Non-swimming rescue

What is PACA & how do we use it?

"Prevent, Alternatives, Consequences, and Action" is an acronym representing the 4 steps in the decision making process.

What is required for guards to remain vigilant during their shift?

"state of readiness to detect and respond to environment changes"

What technique do you use to rescue a submerged victim in deep water?

go down, hand-over-hand surface dive, pull upwards, and lay on arm

What is in-attentional blindness?

the event in which an individual fails to perceive an unexpected stimulus that is in plain sight.

Why do we have an EAP?

efficiently help the victim by splitting roles and communicating

How many steps in an EAP?

1. the lifeguard recognizes that someone needs help, 2. the lifeguard activates the EAP, 3. lifeguard follows general procedure, 4. safety team members assist, 5. the chain of command is notified, 6. witnesses are interviewed, 7. reports are completed, 8. equipment is checked, 9. corrective action taken, 10. follow-up staff discussion

How fast can a person begin the drowning process?

20-60 seconds

What is the YMCA Accident Prevention System called?

Q-1-2

What type of assist would you use for someone that is far away from the wall?

extension assist

What does your whistle blast do in an emergency?

alert the other lifeguards and patrons that you are getting in the water to save a victim and to activate the EAP

What are the characteristics of a distressed swimmer?

arms flailing, panic, screaming, etc.

What is a survival float? Another name?

resting stroke and it's used for basic floating in foreign water

Name 3 of the lifeguard communication system steps.

whistle, hand signals, and walkie talkies

What is required to all patrons 13 & younger? Even for special events?

Swim test to assess their level of swimming proficiency

What are some ways to actively scan your zone?

Mental filing: build swimmer profiles based on their abilities on each sweep
Head counting: notice changes as you count swimmers
Risk- profile matching: measure what you see against characteristics of types of victims

What is guard #3's job in an emergency?

Activate EMS, and meet EMS

What type of victim would display early warning signs?

Weak stroke, hair in eyes, glassy eyes, two heads together, hand waving, moving towards a rock or pier, erratic behavior, clinging to objects for security, neutral or negative buoyancy, and inability to respond verbally // visual behavior: Age, extreme weight, unfamiliar people, parents holding children, intoxicated individuals, people using flotation devices, physical impairment, and improper dress

What entry would you use for a heightened station?

The compact jump

What are some activities that indicate potential victims?

rough-housing in the water, old person zumba class, etc.

What type of assists would you use for someone who is drowning near a wall?

no-water assist

What are the 4 stages in the drowning process?

Initial apnea, dyspnea, terminal apnea, cardiac arrest

What is the submerged defense and how do you do it?

push under water and push guard tube up

What is guard #2's responsibility in an emergency?

clears pool/ directs and monitors patrons

What is the last duty of a guard in an emergency (EAP)?

report!!!