American Red Cross (ARC) Lifeguarding Practice Test

What is the recommended course of action when sun glare prevents seeing swimmers?

Continue scanning alone. Take a break. Signal for assistance. Switch to another duty.

Correct Answer:

Signal for assistance.

Explanation:

Sun glare reduces your ability to see swimmers, so you can’t rely on a single lifeguard’s vision to catch a drowning in time. When visibility is compromised, the priority is to ensure more eyes on the water, which means signaling for assistance from other lifeguards or supervisors. This gets additional scanners into position, often from different angles, and helps maintain overall safety. Simply continuing to scan alone or taking a break doesn’t address the risk created by reduced visibility, and switching duties may reduce coverage if relief isn’t immediately available. Getting help promptly preserves safety by increasing surveillance and ensuring a rapid response if a swimmer is in distress.

Access more questions from this quiz

Continue to American Red Cross (ARC) Lifeguarding Practice Test for more practice questions and the full quiz experience.

Access More Questions