In water rescue, when should a lifeguard consider removing a victim from the water onto a backboard?

• A. Only if spinal injury is suspected.
• B. For any drowning victim, regardless of injury.
• C. After giving rescue breaths.
• D. After performing two minutes of CPR.

Answer: (A)

Protecting the spine during a water rescue is the key idea. A backboard is used to immobilize the spine and prevent further injury if there is any suspicion of spinal damage. Because moving someone with a possible spinal injury can worsen that injury, remove them from the water onto a backboard only when spinal injury is suspected. If there’s no sign of spinal damage, moving the victim isn’t necessary and can cause more harm, so immobilization isn’t the default step. The other options imply moving for reasons unrelated to suspected spinal injury or timing of CPR/rescue breaths, which isn’t the trigger for backboard use.