Written Lifeguarding Practice Test

When a lifeguard suspects a spinal injury in a victim, the appropriate response is to stabilize the head and neck while calling for emergency services. This is crucial because any movement could potentially exacerbate the injury, possibly leading to further damage to the spinal cord. By stabilizing the head and neck, the lifeguard helps prevent any unnecessary movement that could cause additional harm.

Calling for emergency services is essential to ensure that professional medical assistance is on the way, as spinal injuries can be life-threatening and require specialized care. It is important to stay with the victim and monitor their condition until help arrives, providing reassurance and ensuring that they remain still, which helps to minimize the risk of further injury.

The other options may involve actions that could compromise the victim's safety. For example, moving the victim to a comfortable position could lead to unwanted movements that aggravate a potential spine injury. Providing rescue breaths immediately might also necessitate repositioning the victim, which could be dangerous. Leaving the scene to get medical help means abandoning the victim, which is not only unsafe but also may prevent the lifeguard from providing necessary support until professional help arrives. Therefore, the most appropriate action is to stabilize the head and neck and summon emergency assistance.