Mr. Miller Lifeguarding Skills

Primary responsibilities of a lifeguard include:

• Inspecting the pool and rescue equipment before the facility opens and paying close attention to patrons in the water by actively searching their assigned zone.
• Fixing the pool rope and lane lines and ensuring the changing rooms are clean. 
• Following the health codes, answering a patron’s question and making sure patrons shower before using the pool.
• Passing out the pool rules to all the patrons.

A child accidentally falls from the deck into the water and is in distress. After you activate the emergency action plan (EAP), what steps should you take next?

• Clear the pool and alert management of the emergency.
• Encourage them to stay calm and swim back to the edge of the pool.
• Enter the water, approach the victim and bring them to a safe exit point.
• Obtain consent from the child’s parent before rescuing the child.

 The size and shape of a lifeguard’s zone should allow them to recognize and reach a victim in the furthest and deepest part of their zone within:

• 45 seconds 
• 1 ½ minutes
• 30 seconds
• 2 minutes 

While searching your zone, you notice a person motionless in the water. The steps you follow in a water emergency are performed in the following order:

• Perform a secondary assessment, perform a primary assessment, size-up the scene, activate the emergency action plan (EAP), and summon EMS personnel. 
• Perform a primary assessment, activate the EAP, summon EMS personnel, perform a secondary assessment and size-up the scene.
• Size-up the scene, activate the EAP, form an initial impression, summon EMS personnel, perform a primary assessment and perform a secondary assessment.
• Activate the EAP, enter the water, perform an appropriate rescue, move the victim to a safe exit point, remove the victim from the water and provide emergency care as needed

While searching your zone, you witness a patron struggling while swimming and then go under water. Which of the following applies?

• You would use the RID factor to determine what to do.
• You should continue to scan the pool until emergency back-up coverage is available.
• You have duty to act and perform the appropriate rescue.
• You should notify off duty lifeguards to provide care for the victim.

 A couple of patrons start running on the pool deck. You blow your whistle to get their attention. Next, you enforce the rules and regulations by:

• Calling your supervisor.
• Giving them a warning.
• Telling them they could slip or fall and must walk on the deck.
• Telling them they might be asked to leave and demanding they stop it now.

When caring for a suspected head, neck or spinal injury in water, proper manual inline stabilization is:

• Provided using the head splint technique.
• Less important than on land due to the support provided by the water.
• The only necessary technique needed if EMS personnel are close by. 
• Provided by bystanders if the lifeguard needs to clear the pool.

The objective of the facility safety team is to:

• Provide emergency back-up coverage when lifeguards are performing a water rescue.
• Assist lifeguards in maintaining a safe environment and providing emergency care.
• Help lifeguards understand the facility’s EAP.
• Perform patron surveillance when lifeguards need to take a break. 

A head, neck or spinal injury rarely happens:

• In deep water at a supervised facility.
• When someone is running on the pool deck.
• In shallow water that is clearly signed No Diving. 
• From collisions between swimmers

Which of the following is true about accidental fecal releases (AFRs)?

• Require water treatment, temporary pool closure and immediate lifeguard attention.
• AFRs do not require immediate attention.
• Managers only need to be concerned with AFRs.
• It is part of the routine daily operation of a pool that must be done for safety.