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.

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

1. Why is early defibrillation important?

  • It replaces the need for EMS
  • It is only used for minor injuries
  • It can help restore a normal heart rhythm — Correct answer
  • It always stops all bleeding
Why

Early defibrillation can help restore a normal heart rhythm in cardiac arrest. It is one of the most important steps for survival.

2. Which sequence best matches the Cardiac Chain of Survival?

  • Early stretching, early walking, early drinking, advanced care
  • Early recognition, early CPR, early defibrillation, advanced care — Correct answer
  • Early ice, early rest, early food, advanced care
  • Early bandaging, early splinting, early transport, advanced care
Why

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?

  • Breathing and response — Correct answer
  • Swimming ability
  • Shoe size
  • Hair color
Why

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?

  • Responsiveness — Correct answer
  • Skin color
  • Blood pressure
  • Pupil size
Why

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?

  • The victim's medical history
  • Responsiveness — Correct answer
  • Body temperature
  • The color of their shoes
Why

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?

  • Check that the scene is safe — Correct answer
  • Move the person to the deck
  • Start chest compressions
  • Give water
Why

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:

  • Apply only when a person looks sick
  • Treat all blood and body fluids as potentially infectious — Correct answer
  • Replace the need for EMS
  • Only protect against water-related illness
Why

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?

  • Bright red rash
  • Slow, deep breathing only
  • Warm, flushed skin
  • Pale, cool skin — Correct answer
Why

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.

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