Prepare for the BSA Lifeguard certification test with these practice questions and answers. This guide covers water rescue techniques, CPR, first aid, and aquatic safety.
Q: 1. What is the minimum age of the supervisor required by the Safe Swim Defense plan?a. 14b. 16c. 18d. 21
Answer: d. 21
Q: 2. What training is required for the supervisor under the Safe Swim Defense plan? a. BSA Safe Swim Defense b. CPR and Standard First Aid c. BSA Swimming and Water Rescue d. BSA Lifeguard or Red Cross Lifeguarding
Answer: a. BSA Safe Swim Defense
Q: 3. What evidence of fitness for swimming is required by the Safe Swim Defense plan? a. Signed release of liability b. Signed health history form c. Signed membership application d. Signed permission to seek medical attention
Answer: b. Signed health history form
Q: 4. What are some things you can do as a lifeguard, not on surveillance duty, to facilitate communication with an adult leader? a. Stand and make eye contact with the adult b. Suggest the adult speak with your supervisor c. Always have a buddy witness the conversation d. Request the adult make an appointment for later
Answer: a. Stand and make eye contact with the adult
Q: 5. According to Safe Swim Defense, what is the maximum recommended water depth when swimming in turbid water? a. 8 feet b. 9 feet c. 10 feet d. 12 feet
Answer: a. 8 feet
Q: 6. What activities are not permitted when swimming in turbid water? a. Run-and-swim entry b. Stride or compact entry c. Opening the eyes underwater d. Diving and underwater swimming
Answer: d. Diving and underwater swimming
Q: 7. What is the minimum depth when jumping feet-first into water? a. Waist-deep b. Chest-deep c. Shoulder-deep d. Over the head
Answer: b. Chest-deep
Q: 8. What does the letter “N” in the FIND model remind you to do? a. Name the pros and cons b. Nullify the circumstances c. Negate the adverse effects d. Notify the lifeguard supervisor
Answer: a. Name the pros and cons
Q: 9. What are some of the factors to consider when the water is cold? a. Monitor the adults more closely than the youth. b. Recommend all swimmers wear a cotton T-shirt. c. Reduce the amount of exposure time in the water. d. Visible symptoms of chill are consistent in children.
Answer: c. Reduce the amount of exposure time in the water
Q: 10. How long should you wait after the last lightning flash or thunder before leaving shelter? a. 20 minutes b. 25 minutes c. 30 minutes d. 45 minutes
Answer: c. 30 minutes
Q: 11. What type of shelter typically provides better protection from lightning? a. A small metal picnic shelter b. A tarp with a stainless steel cable for a ridgeline c. Wall tents on permanent platforms with metal frames d. An enclosed building with permanent electrical wiring
Answer: d. An enclosed building with permanent electrical wiring
Q: 12. What additional training must be valid in order for the BSA Lifeguard training to be valid? a. Safe Swim Defense and Safety Afloat b. Aquatics Supervision: Swimming and Water Rescue c. Aquatics Supervision and Youth Protection Training d. First Aid and CPR/AED for the Professional Rescuer
Answer: d. First Aid and CPR/AED for the Professional Rescuer
Q: 13. What is the minimum age specified in the National Camp Standards to serve as a lifeguard for swimming activities in a natural body of water? a. 14 years old b. 15 years old c. 16 years old d. 18 years old
Answer: c. 16 years old
Q: 14. What is the meaning of negligence as a legal consideration for lifeguards? a. The minimum level of required care b. A failure to provide appropriate care c. The victim’s refusal of on-scene care d. A moral responsibility to act with care
Answer: b. A failure to provide appropriate care
Q: 15. What is the primary purpose of a buddy check? a. Give lifeguards a break and a chance to rotate stations b. Determine if someone is missing or has drowned without being noticed c. Determine if all lifeguards are in position and ready to begin the activity d. Remind participants to remain near their buddy so they can lend assistance
Answer: d. Remind participants to remain near their buddy so they can lend assistance
Q: 16. What should you do if buddies take longer than 10 seconds to find each other during a buddy check? a. Remind them of their responsibility for the other’s safety. b. Remove them from the water and notify their adult leader. c. Require them to get out of the water for the rest of the day. d. Require them to get out of the water until the next buddy check.
Answer: a. Remind them of their responsibility for the other’s safety
Q: 17. What one of the general behavior characteristics you might expect from Cub Scouts? a. Limited attention span b. Increased risk tolerance c. Good physical coordination d. Lack of respect for authority
Answer: a. Limited attention span
Q: 18. Who is responsible for the identification of potential hazards on or around the swim area? a. Lifeguards b. Aquatics Director c. Guard Team Supervisor d. All of the above
Answer: d. All of the above
Q: 19. What are the proper actions for the lifeguard to take after the emergency action plan has been activated for someone who appears to be having a cardiac arrest in the water? a. Move the victim to the side of the pool and stabilize the vital signs. b. Remove the victim from the water and prepare to begin CPR/AED. c. Remove the victim from the water and wait for advanced life support. d. Remove the victim from the water and wait for the director’s instructions.
Answer: b. Remove the victim from the water and prepare to begin CPR/AED
Q: 20. What is the maximum depth for the Beginner area? a. Chest-deep b. Standing depth c. Shoulder depth d. Just over the head
Answer: d. Just over the head
Q: 21. During the swim test, what should Scouts who declare themselves to be Non-Swimmers do? a. Be encouraged to suit up and join in the testing. b. Be given a chance to play and splash in the water. c. Get acquainted with the instructor for Non-Swimmers. d. All of the above.
Answer: d. All of the above
Q: 22. What are the responsibilities of the lookout according to Safe Swim Defense? a. Call for buddy checks every 10 minutes, operate the buddy board, guard the gate b. Monitor the weather, alert rescue personnel, identify violations of Safe Swim Defense c. Hang buddy tags on the buddy board, blow the whistle for buddy checks, guard the gate d. Supervise the other guards, listen to the weather radio, activate the emergency action plan
Answer: b. Monitor the weather, alert rescue personnel, identify violations of Safe Swim Defense
Q: 23. What is the distance required for the Swimmer swim classification? a. 50 feet b. 50 yards c. 100 feet d. 100 yards
Answer: d. 100 yards
Q: 24. What does the color red on the upper half circle of the buddy tag indicate? a. Adult leader b. Beginner c. Swimmer d. Non-Swimmer
Answer: b. Beginner
Q: 25. Under Safe Swim Defense, what is the minimum guard-to-swimmer ratio for a recreational swim? a. One guard for every 5 Cub Scout participants b. One guard for every 10 participants c. One guard for every 20 participants d. a and b
Answer: b. One guard for every 10 participants
Q: 26. What should you do if someone with a disability wants to check in for a recreational swim with his buddy? a. Buddy them with another lifeguard. b. Allow them to swim in the non-swimmer area only. c. Allow them to swim in the area that matches their ability. d. Deny them entry and immediately notify the aquatics director.
Answer: c. Allow them to swim in the area that matches their ability
Q: 27. You are at the entry to the swim area. What should you do if a unit leader asks to use the swimming area to test a Scout as part of the Second Class rank advancement? a. Allow the unit leader give the test to the Scout. Guard as needed. b. Ask to see the unit leader’s current Safe Swim Defense training card. c. Tell the unit leader only the aquatics staff may test rank advancement. d. Do not let the leader into the swim area and notify the aquatics director.
Answer: a. Allow the unit leader give the test to the Scout. Guard as needed
Q: 28. What is the maximum height for diving allowed by the BSA aquatics policy? a. 18 inches b. 40 inches c. 48 inches d. 60 inches
Answer: b. 40 inches
Q: 29. What type of entry should be used when entering the water from an elevated guard chair (greater than 3 feet)? a. Compact jump b. Run-and-swim c. Slide-in entry d. Stride jump
Answer: a. Compact jump
Q: 30. When should an injured subject on land be moved? a. When there are other people to assist b. When you need to treat severe bleeding c. When they are in danger where they are d. All of the above
Answer: c. When they are in danger where they are
Q: 31. What are the three key steps to use when escaping from a front head-hold? a. Gasp, Grab, Push b. Suck, Tuck, Duck c. Reach, Throw, Go d. Tuck, Twist, Subdue
Answer: b. Suck, Tuck, Duck
Q: 32. When removing a person from the water using a vertical lift, what should be the lifeguard’s primary concern for the victim? a. Calling for assistance b. Keeping your rescue tube with you c. Protecting the victim’s head and spine d. Making sure to bend at the waist when lifting
Answer: c. Protecting the victim’s head and spine
Q: 33. Which of the following skills would you use with a face-down victim of a suspected spinal injury in waist- to chest-deep water? a. Head splint b. Head chin support c. Hip and shoulder support d. Either a or b
Answer: d. Either a or b
Q: 34. If rescuer 1 has used a head-chin support technique to stabilize a subject with a suspected spinal injury, what should be the next step for rescuer 2 after placing the backboard under the subject? a. Move to the head and take over stabilization. b. Place a rescue tube under the subject’s knees. c. Use a head-splint technique to stabilize the subject. d. Secure the subject to the board using at least three straps.
Answer: a. Move to the head and take over stabilization
Q: 35. What should you do if you observe a person fail to surface after submersion in murky water? a. Immediately undertake a rescue attempt. b. Wait for mask and fins and begin a line search. c. Wait for three additional guards, then begin a line search. d. Activate a lost swimmer search or lost bather drill (LBD).
Answer: a. Immediately undertake a rescue attempt
Q: 36. What type of life jacket is recommended for general recreational use in Scouting? a. Type I b. Type II c. Type III d. Type IV
Answer: c. Type III
Q: 37. What is the recommended procedure when using watercraft to guard a distance swim in open water? a. Rowboats with two occupants accompanying each swimmer b. Guards on rescue boards accompanying every two swimmers c. Guards in anchored rowboats 100 yards apart along the course d. Guards in canoes with rescue tubes accompanying each swimmer
Answer: a. Rowboats with two occupants accompanying each swimmer
Q: 38. In the event of a serious accident or injury, what action should you take with regard to notification of parents or guardian? a. Ask his buddy to immediately notify the parents or guardian. b. Tell anyone on the staff to contact his parents as soon as possible. c. Use your cell phone to immediately notify the parents or guardian. d. Allow the Scout Executive or representative to handle the notification.
Answer: d. Allow the Scout Executive or representative to handle the notification
Q: 39. What element of the RID Factor does the letter “I” represent? a. Incident b. Isolation c. Intrusion d. Independence
Answer: c. Intrusion
Q: 40. What are the first and last points of Safe Swim Defense? a. Lifeguards and Lookout b. Buddy Tag and Buddy Board c. Safe Swim Area and Ability Groups d. Qualified Supervision and Discipline
Answer: d. Qualified Supervision and Discipline