WSI - Water Safety Instructor Water Safety and Rescue Skills Questions and Answers — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A WSI is supervising a free swim period and notices a swimmer who is vertical in the water, with their head tilted back and mouth at water level. They are not calling for help, and their arms are pressing down at their sides in a repetitive motion. What is this person most likely experiencing?
- A distressed swimmer
- Hypothermia
- Shallow water blackout
- Active drowning (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Active drowning
The signs described—vertical position, head back, mouth at water level, ineffective arm movements, and inability to call for help—are classic indicators of the instinctive drowning response. A distressed swimmer can typically still call out and wave for help.
Question 2: Which of the following is a critical component of an aquatic facility's Emergency Action Plan (EAP) that a Water Safety Instructor must be prepared to activate immediately?
- The schedule for daily staff meetings
- The specific signals used to alert other staff and clear the pool (Correct answer)
- The procedure for refilling the first aid kit
- The contact information for the pool chemical supplier
Correct answer: The specific signals used to alert other staff and clear the pool
The EAP outlines the immediate response to an emergency. Key components include how to recognize an emergency, how to activate the EAP (often with specific signals like whistle blasts), and the roles of each staff member in clearing the pool, providing care, and contacting EMS.
Question 3: While teaching, a student in the shallow end, about 5 feet from the edge of the pool, begins to struggle and appears distressed. The WSI is on the pool deck. Which is the safest and most appropriate non-swimming rescue to perform in this situation?
- A reaching assist with a rescue tube (Correct answer)
- A throwing assist with a ring buoy
- A wading assist with a rescue tube
- An immediate in-water rescue
Correct answer: A reaching assist with a rescue tube
The principle of "reach or throw, don't go" applies here. Since the victim is close to the side, a reaching assist is the quickest, safest, and most effective method. It keeps the rescuer out of the water, minimizing risk. A throwing assist is for greater distances, and a wading or swimming rescue is only used when reaching or throwing is not possible.
Question 4: What is the primary objective when providing care for a swimmer with a suspected head, neck, or spinal injury in the water?
- To remove the victim from the water as quickly as possible
- To check for responsiveness by shaking the victim's shoulders
- To minimize movement of the head, neck, and spine using in-line stabilization (Correct answer)
- To immediately begin rescue breathing if the victim is not breathing
Correct answer: To minimize movement of the head, neck, and spine using in-line stabilization
The top priority for a suspected spinal injury is to prevent further harm. This is achieved by using the head splint technique or other methods to maintain in-line stabilization, minimizing any movement of the head, neck, and back while waiting for EMS to arrive and perform extraction.
Question 5: A WSI is conducting a class and notices a group of children repeatedly hyperventilating before attempting to swim underwater for distance. What is the most important and immediate action the instructor should take?
- Encourage the behavior as a way to build lung capacity
- Ignore the behavior unless a child shows signs of distress
- Time the children to see who can hold their breath the longest
- Stop the activity immediately and explain the risks of shallow water blackout (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Stop the activity immediately and explain the risks of shallow water blackout
Hyperventilating before swimming underwater depletes the body's carbon dioxide levels. This can bypass the body's natural urge to breathe, leading to a loss of consciousness in the water, known as shallow water blackout. A WSI's primary responsibility is safety, which requires immediately stopping this dangerous behavior and educating the participants.
Question 6: When performing an in-water rescue with a rescue tube, which of the following describes the proper technique for approaching and contacting a conscious victim?
- Approach from the rear, reach under the victim's armpits, and place the tube between your chest and their back (Correct answer)
- Swim directly at the victim's front and hand them the tube
- Push the tube underwater and release it underneath the victim
- Throw the rescue tube to the victim from a distance of 10 feet
Correct answer: Approach from the rear, reach under the victim's armpits, and place the tube between your chest and their back
The standard technique for a conscious victim rescue involves a rear approach. This protects the rescuer from being grabbed by a panicked victim. The rescuer secures the victim by reaching under their arms and placing the buoyant rescue tube between their own chest and the victim's back, providing support for both individuals.
WSI - Water Safety Instructor Water Safety and Rescue Skills Questions and Answers
A WSI is supervising a free swim period and notices a swimmer who is vertical in the water, with their head tilted back and mouth at water level.
They are not calling for help, and their arms are pressing down at their sides in a repetitive motion.
What is this person most likely experiencing?