American Red Cross Lifeguarding: First Aid for Sudden Illnesses and Injuries & Surveillance

Vocabulary practice flashcards covering signal detection theory in aquatic surveillance, secondary assessments, and first aid response protocols for sudden illnesses and injuries from the American Red Cross Lifeguarding course.

Hit (Surveillance)

An outcome where you detect a distressed swimmer or a drowning person, and you respond.

Correct Rejection (Surveillance)

An outcome where there is no distressed swimmer or drowning person, and you do not respond.

False Alarm (Surveillance)

An outcome where there is no distressed swimmer or drowning person, but you think you detect one and initiate a response.

Miss (Surveillance)

An outcome where there is a distressed swimmer or drowning person, but you do not detect them.

Signal Detection Variables

The two primary variables that affect the ability to detect a signal: how much the signal stands out from everything around it, and how much you are paying attention.

Inattentional Blindness

A condition that occurs when a person completely misses something in their line of sight because they are focused on something else.

Secondary Assessment

An evaluation conducted when a person becomes suddenly ill or injured, performed if the rapid assessment does not reveal any immediately life-threatening conditions.

SAMPLE

A mnemonic used to obtain a focused history during a secondary assessment: Signs and symptoms, Allergies, Medications, Past medical history, Last oral intake, and Events leading up to the incident.

Focused Examination

An assessment where you inspect the part of the body that the person says hurts, is holding, or shows obvious signs of injury by looking and feeling, testing movement if able, observing skin, and checking for medical identification tags.

General Care for First Aid Emergencies

Actions taken when it is difficult to identify the exact problem: follow training-consistent care steps, reassure the person, position them as appropriate, and monitor for changes in breathing or level of consciousness.

Water Seizure Protocol

The immediate first aid procedure when a person has a seizure in the water: activate the EAP, enter the water, and support the person with their head above water until the seizure ends.

Heart Attack First Aid Priority

The single most important first aid action when suspecting a heart attack: activate the EMS system.

Aquatic Facility Poisons

Common hazardous chemical sources found in aquatic facilities that can lead to poison exposure, specifically pool maintenance chemicals and cleaning products.

Non-Life-Threatening External Bleeding Care

The first aid procedure of applying direct pressure to control bleeding from an arm or leg, followed by the application of a roller bandage.

Musculoskeletal Care (Waiting for EMS)

Immediate care while awaiting EMS arrival: have the person rest without moving and apply a cold pack wrapped in a thin, dry towel for no more than 20 minutes.

Musculoskeletal Care (EMS Not Called)

Care steps when EMS is not summoned: advise follow-up with a healthcare provider, splint if trained to limit motion, apply cold, and apply a compression wrap if trained for an ankle sprain or strain.