Know your Facility
What is the maximum depth of the SFC pool?
4 feet.
What does AED stand for?
Automated External Defibrillator.
What is the primary responsibility of a lifeguard?
To prevent drowning and other injuries through effective surveillance, intervention, and emergency response.
What does ERP stand for?
Emergency Response Plan
What is the purpose of scanning?
To continuously monitor the aquatic environment and recognize hazards or people in distress as quickly as possible.
Where is the AED located?
On pool deck next to water fountain.
When should an AED be used?
When a person is unresponsive, not breathing normally, and an AED is available—follow the AED's prompts and your current training.
What are the three main components of effective surveillance?
Recognition, prevention, and response.
When should a lifeguard activate the ERP?
When an emergency occurs that requires a coordinated response beyond normal intervention.
True or False: If the pool is empty, you don't need to actively scan.
False. Lifeguards should remain attentive whenever they are responsible for surveillance.
Where is the backboard/rescue equipment located?
On pool deck right outside the guard office. There is also a spare one in the guard office.
What is the recommended adult CPR compression rate?
100–120 compressions per minute.
What are some signs that a swimmer may be in distress?
Struggling to stay afloat, difficulty breathing, vertical body position, ineffective swimming, grabbing for the wall, or appearing unable to make forward progress.
Why is it important to know your ERP before an emergency happens?
Emergencies require immediate action. Knowing your role ahead of time prevents confusion and delays.
Name three things that can distract a lifeguard from effective surveillance.
Phones, conversations, personal relationships, excessive movement, eating, unnecessary tasks, fatigue, or focusing on one area for too long.
What is the first thing you should do if you discover that emergency equipment is missing or unusable?
Alert Ashley right away!
Name three signs or symptoms that could indicate shock.
Pale/cool/clammy skin, rapid or weak pulse, rapid breathing, weakness, confusion, dizziness, or nausea.
True or False: A drowning person will always yell or wave for help.
Drowning is often silent, and a victim may not be able to call or wave.
During a serious emergency, what are some important things a lifeguard should communicate?
What happened, the location, the victim's condition, what assistance is needed, and what actions have already been taken.
You notice another lifeguard is talking to a friend while on surveillance. What should you do?
Remind them to focus on their scanning, not the conversation.
What should you do if you notice a safety hazard that could put patrons at risk?
Put it in shift report/ Alert Ashley right away. It is helpful to take pictures and also give a brief explanation.
Scenario: A patron collapses on the pool deck and is unresponsive. What are your priorities?
Scene safety → recognize the emergency → activate ERP/get EMS → assess responsiveness and breathing → begin appropriate CPR/AED care according to training → continue until help arrives or the person recovers.
You notice a swimmer repeatedly going underwater and resurfacing but they aren't making progress toward the wall. What should you do?
Treat it as a potential drowning emergency, activate the appropriate response, and perform the appropriate rescue according to your training and EAP.
Scenario: A swimmer is pulled from the water and is unresponsive. Walk through what you would do.
Ensure scene safety, recognize the emergency, activate the EAP/get EMS help, assess the victim, provide appropriate care/CPR and AED use according to current training, and continue care until relieved by EMS or another trained responder.
You are scanning your zone and notice something unusual underwater, but you're not sure if it's a person or an object. What should you do?
Investigate immediately rather than assuming it's nothing. Recognizing a potential victim quickly is more important than waiting for certainty.