NASCO Emergency Response & Safety Procedures 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: When a lifeguard activates an EAP for a spinal injury in the water, what is the FIRST priority?
- Call 911 immediately
- Stabilize the victim's head and spine in the water (Correct answer)
- Clear all other patrons from the pool
- Retrieve the backboard from storage
Correct answer: Stabilize the victim's head and spine in the water
Spinal stabilization must begin immediately in the water before any other steps to prevent further injury.
Question 2: Which rescue technique is most appropriate for a conscious distressed swimmer in deep water who is still at the surface?
- Jumping entry with contact
- Reaching assist with a rescue tube
- Wading assist
- Throwing a heaving line (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Throwing a heaving line
A throwing assist keeps the rescuer out of the water and is preferred when the victim is reachable by thrown equipment.
Question 3: During a multiple-victim emergency, what does the Incident Command System (ICS) primarily help manage?
- CPR rotation schedules
- Chain of command and resource allocation (Correct answer)
- First aid supply inventory
- Media communications
Correct answer: Chain of command and resource allocation
ICS establishes clear chain of command and coordinates resources efficiently during large-scale emergencies.
Question 4: What is the correct compression-to-ventilation ratio for adult CPR per current AHA guidelines used in NASCO training?
- 15:2
- 30:2 (Correct answer)
- 30:1
- 15:1
Correct answer: 30:2
Current guidelines call for 30 chest compressions followed by 2 rescue breaths for adults.
Question 5: An AED delivers a shock but the victim does not regain a pulse. What should the responder do next?
- Check for responsiveness and wait 2 minutes
- Immediately resume CPR for 2 minutes, then re-analyze (Correct answer)
- Deliver a second shock right away
- Stop and reassess airway
Correct answer: Immediately resume CPR for 2 minutes, then re-analyze
After a shock, CPR should be resumed immediately for 2 minutes before the AED re-analyzes the rhythm.
Question 6: Which sign most clearly distinguishes a passive drowning victim from an active distressed swimmer?
- Victim is face-down and motionless (Correct answer)
- Victim is waving arms above water
- Victim is calling for help
- Victim is treading water slowly
Correct answer: Victim is face-down and motionless
Passive drowning victims are submerged or face-down and show no voluntary movement, requiring immediate in-water rescue.
Question 7: What does the term 'zone of safety' refer to in aquatic emergency response?
- The area roped off for lap swimmers
- The perimeter established to keep bystanders away from an emergency scene (Correct answer)
- The shallow end of the pool designated for non-swimmers
- A lifeguard's scanning area
Correct answer: The perimeter established to keep bystanders away from an emergency scene
A zone of safety is a controlled perimeter that prevents crowd interference and keeps the emergency scene manageable.
NASCO Emergency Response & Safety Procedures 2
When a lifeguard activates an EAP for a spinal injury in the water, what is the FIRST priority?