100 Terms Every Lifeguard Should Know

100 Terms Every Lifeguard Should Know

No. Term Definition
1. ABCDE assessment Primary survey: airway, breathing, circulation, disability, exposure.
2. AED Device delivering shock for lethal arrhythmias.
3. Airway Passage for breathing; must be open.
4. Airway adjunct OPA/NPA used to maintain airway.
5. Alertness Level of consciousness and responsiveness.
6. Allergic reaction Immune response causing swelling, hives, wheeze.
7. Anaphylaxis Severe allergy causing airway or shock.
8. Aquatic facility rules Posted policies for patron safety.
9. Aspiration Inhaling water or vomit into lungs.
10. Asthma attack Airway narrowing causing wheeze, breathlessness.
11. Backboard Rigid board for spinal immobilization.
12. Bag-valve mask (BVM) Manual ventilation device with mask.
13. Beach flags Color-coded conditions and hazard warnings.
14. Bite and sting Injury from animals or insects.
15. Bloodborne pathogens Diseases spread via blood exposure.
16. Body substance isolation Use barriers to prevent contamination.
17. Breathing Air movement in and out of lungs.
18. Buddy system Pairing swimmers for mutual monitoring.
19. Burn Tissue damage from heat or chemicals.
20. Capillary refill Quick check of peripheral perfusion.
21. Cardiac arrest No effective heartbeat; needs CPR/AED.
22. Chain of survival Steps improving cardiac arrest outcomes.
23. Chest compressions Manual pumping to circulate blood.
24. Chin-lift Airway opening without neck extension.
25. Circulation Blood flow to organs and tissues.
26. Cold-water immersion Exposure causing hypothermia and shock.
27. Concussion Brain injury from head impact.
28. Contaminated water Water with pathogens or chemicals.
29. CPR Compressions and breaths for cardiac arrest.
30. Cramp Painful involuntary muscle contraction.
31. Cricothyrotomy Emergency airway through neck membrane.
32. Cyanosis Bluish skin from low oxygen.
33. Deep-water rescue Rescue performed beyond standing depth.
34. Defibrillation Electric shock to restore normal rhythm.
35. Dehydration Fluid loss causing weakness and cramps.
36. Diabetic emergency Abnormal blood sugar causing altered mental status.
37. Diving injury Trauma from diving impacts or depth.
38. DNR order Directive to withhold resuscitation.
39. Drowning Respiratory impairment from submersion.
40. Dry drowning Nonstandard term; avoid using.
41. Duty to act Legal obligation to provide care on duty.
42. EAP (Emergency Action Plan) Facility procedures for emergencies.
43. Egress Safe exit route from water area.
44. Emergency oxygen Supplemental oxygen for breathing problems.
45. EMS activation Calling emergency medical services promptly.
46. Environmental hazards Risks from weather, wildlife, terrain.
47. Epinephrine auto-injector Self-injection for anaphylaxis treatment.
48. Exertional heat illness Heat stress from activity and humidity.
49. Exposure Checking body; preventing heat loss.
50. Fainting (syncope) Brief loss of consciousness from low perfusion.
51. First aid Immediate care until advanced help arrives.
52. Flotation aid Device assisting buoyancy during rescue.
53. Fracture Broken bone injury.
54. Front rescue Approach and tow from victim’s front.
55. Gasping Agonal breaths; treat as no breathing.
56. Gastrointestinal illness Vomiting or diarrhea from infection.
57. Gloves Barrier protection for body fluids.
58. Guard rotation Scheduled change of surveillance positions.
59. Head-tilt chin-lift Airway opening for nontrauma victim.
60. Heat exhaustion Heat illness with sweating, weakness, nausea.
61. Heat stroke Life-threatening overheating with altered mental status.
62. Heimlich maneuver Abdominal thrusts for choking.
63. Hemorrhage Severe bleeding requiring control.
64. Hypothermia Dangerously low body temperature.
65. Hypoxia Insufficient oxygen to tissues.
66. In-line stabilization Holding head/neck to limit movement.
67. Incident report Written record of event and actions.
68. Inhaler (bronchodilator) Medication device relieving bronchospasm.
69. Jaw-thrust Airway opening with suspected spinal injury.
70. Laceration Cut or tear in skin.
71. Laryngospasm Vocal cords spasm blocking airflow.
72. Lifeguard tube Rescue buoy worn with strap.
73. Lookout scan Systematic visual surveillance pattern.
74. Lost child protocol Steps to locate and reunite child.
75. Mask seal Tight fit preventing air leaks.
76. Mechanism of injury How injury occurred; guides assessment.
77. Neck injury Possible cervical spine trauma.
78. NPA Nasal airway adjunct for ventilation.
79. OPAs Oral airway adjunct preventing tongue obstruction.
80. Open water Natural bodies: ocean, lake, river.
81. Overcrowding Too many patrons for safe supervision.
82. Panic Fear-driven behavior increasing drowning risk.
83. Patron surveillance Continuous monitoring of swimmers.
84. PEARL Pupils equal and reactive to light.
85. Personal flotation device (PFD) Life jacket providing buoyancy.
86. Pool chemistry Sanitizer and pH balance for safety.
87. Post-rescue care Ongoing monitoring after removal from water.
88. Primary assessment Initial check for life threats.
89. Pulse check Assess heartbeat presence and rate.
90. Reach-throw-row-go Rescue sequence minimizing rescuer risk.
91. Recovery position Side-lying position to protect airway.
92. Red flags Serious signs requiring urgent EMS.
93. Rescue board Rigid float used in surf rescues.
94. Rescue breathing Ventilations for breathing failure with pulse.
95. Rescue can Hard buoy used in open-water rescues.
96. Rescue tube tow Towing victim supported by rescue tube.
97. Rip current Strong narrow current flowing offshore.
98. Rule enforcement Consistent application of safety rules.
99. Secondary assessment Head-to-toe exam after stabilization.
100. Seizure Abnormal brain activity causing convulsions.