Written Lifeguarding Practice Test 2026 – All-in-One Lifeguard Exam Success Guide

When a seizure happens in the water, the priority is to prevent drowning by getting the person out of the water as quickly and safely as possible. A seizure can cause loss of consciousness and impaired protective reflexes, so every second spent staying in the water increases the risk of drowning. The fastest, safest move is to bring the person to shore or to shallow water right away, using a rescue technique that keeps both you and the victim safe.

After you’ve removed them from the water, assess their breathing and responsiveness. If they’re not breathing, start CPR and call for emergency help. If they are breathing, monitor them and place them in the recovery position if they remain unconscious or disoriented, and continue to watch for any changes until EMS arrives.

Why the other options aren’t ideal: delaying to move to shallow water gives the seizure time to run its course while still in a dangerous environment; securing to a backboard is something done during transport after the immediate risk has been addressed, not as the first action in the water; trying to keep the head above water during the seizure can be unreliable and may delay getting the person out of the water.