YMCA Lifeguard Practice Test

Which of the following is NOT one of the four stages in the drowning process?

1. Loss of consciousness

2. Cardiac arrest

3. Sleep apnea

4. Water inhalation

The correct answer is: Sleep apnea

The correct choice is the option referring to sleep apnea because it is not part of the drowning process. The four stages of drowning typically include water inhalation, loss of consciousness, and ultimately cardiac arrest, as these are the physiological responses to near-drowning situations. In drowning, water inhalation disrupts normal breathing, leading to the loss of consciousness as the brain is deprived of oxygen. Following that, without immediate intervention, cardiac arrest can occur due to the body's failure to sustain normal heart function as a result of oxygen deprivation. Sleep apnea, on the other hand, is a completely different condition characterized by interruptions in breathing during sleep, often unrelated to water environments and not a direct factor in drowning scenarios. Understanding this distinction helps clarify the progression of drowning and the physiological responses involved.