1. Why is early defibrillation important?
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Early defibrillation can help restore a normal heart rhythm in cardiac arrest. It is one of the most important steps for survival.
Before Providing Care & Victim Assessment Practice Questions
Before giving care, a lifeguard checks the scene and the victim. This part of the exam covers scene safety, protecting yourself, and the primary assessment that finds life-threatening problems first.
Topics include personal protective equipment, standard precautions, checking responsiveness and breathing, the recovery position, the cardiac chain of survival, and shock.
Questions last reviewed June 2026 · AHA/ECC guidelinesHow our questions are made
What this part of the exam covers
- Checking the scene for safety before approaching
- PPE (gloves, breathing barrier) and standard precautions
- Primary assessment: responsiveness, breathing, life-threatening bleeding
- The recovery position for an unresponsive person who is breathing
- The cardiac chain of survival and recognizing shock
Practice questions
Choose an answer to test yourself — the explanation appears once you answer.
2. Which sequence best matches the Cardiac Chain of Survival?
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The Cardiac Chain of Survival focuses on fast action for cardiac arrest. Early recognition, CPR, defibrillation, and advanced care improve the chance of survival.
3. What should you monitor in a person who may be in shock?
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A person in shock can get worse quickly, so keep checking breathing and responsiveness. This helps you notice changes right away.
4. In a primary assessment, what should you check first?
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The primary assessment starts by checking whether the person responds. That quickly tells you whether the person is awake and able to answer you.
5. In the primary assessment, what should you check first?
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The first step in a primary assessment is to check responsiveness. This tells you whether the person responds and may need urgent help.
6. What should you do first when you reach a victim?
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Always check that the scene is safe before you go in. Look for hazards that could injure you, the victim, or other people.
7. Standard precautions are used to:
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Standard precautions mean you protect yourself against possible infection every time you give care. Do not wait until you know a person is infected, because you may not be able to tell.
8. Which sign is common in shock?
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Shock can cause pale, cool, clammy skin and rapid breathing. These signs mean the body may not be getting enough blood flow.
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Frequently asked questions
- What is a primary assessment?
- A primary assessment is the first quick check of a victim for immediately life-threatening problems — responsiveness, breathing, and severe bleeding — so the most urgent care and EMS activation happen first.
- When do you use the recovery position?
- Place an unresponsive person who is breathing normally (and has no suspected spinal injury) on their side in the recovery position to help keep the airway clear while you monitor them and wait for EMS.
- What is the cardiac chain of survival?
- It is the sequence that gives a cardiac arrest victim the best chance: early recognition and call for help, early CPR, early defibrillation, and early advanced medical care.
More lifeguard exam topics
- Professional Lifeguard Practice Questions
- Facility Safety Practice Questions
- Surveillance and Victim Recognition Practice Questions
- Injury Prevention Practice Questions
- Emergency Action Plan (EAP) Practice Questions
- Water Rescue Skills Practice Questions
- Breathing Emergencies Practice Questions
- CPR & Cardiac Emergencies Practice Questions
- First Aid Practice Questions
- Head, Neck & Spinal Injury Practice Questions