Chapter 1 - The Professional Lifeguard

Question 1

What is the Duty to Act, and what is its opposite?

Answer 1

Duty to Act - legal responsibility to act in an emergency

Negligence - When lifeguards fail to follow the standard of care or fail to act at all

Question 2

What is the lifeguard’s Standard of Care?

Answer 2

1. Communicate proper information and warnings to help prevent injuries
2. Recognize someone in need of care
3. Attempt to rescue those needing assistance
4. Provide emergency care according to your level of training

Question 3

What does negligence include (4 types)?

Answer 3

• Failure to prevent or stop dangerous behavior
• Failure to provide care
• Providing inappropriate care (cpr on an unconscious breathing victim)
• Providing care beyond the scope of practice or level of training (using the information in this course prior to certification)

Question 4

What is abandonment?

Answer 4

abandoning the scene or ceasing to provide care after initiating it prior to EMS or backup taking over

Question 5

How does confidentiality apply to lifeguarding?

Answer 5

Lifeguards can only share personal/medical information about about a victim with EMS directly associated with the victim’s care, facility management, or facility legal counsel

Question 6

Why are incident reports important, and when should they be filled out?

Answer 6

1. reports provide legal documentation of what was seen, heard, and done at the scene
2. Anything more than a bandaid

Question 7

What is consent, and how do lifeguards obtain it?

Answer 7

1. State name and level of training
2. Ask permission to help
3. Explain all actions taken (including assessment)

Question 8

What is implied consent?

Answer 8

A victim who is unconscious. confused or seriously injured/ill (i.e. nonfatal drowning) and thus not able to grant consent may be treated anyway without legal repercussion. Minors without a parent or guardian present are also assumed to consent

Question 9

What is a Refusal of Care, and how to lifeguards respond?

Answer 9

A victim (even in dire need) or a parent of a child who refuses your service.

1. if major, call 911 (this is not providing care), and explain to the victim or parent that they can refuse care to EMS when they arrive if they so wish
2. Document the refusal of care (explain care is not being withheld and the victim is not abandoned), and have them (if possible) sign a refusal of care document. Also have a witness sign the report
3. Wait until the situation grants you implied consent if possible

Question 10

What are Good Samaritan Laws, and how do they apply to lifeguards?

Answer 10

They protect people from negligence claims after providing emergency care in good faith without accepting anything in return.

They do not apply to lifeguards on duty.