If a lifeguard rescue does not result in survival, common signs include which of the following?

• A. Post-traumatic stress
• B. Acute stress reaction
• C. Depressive symptoms without PTSD
• D. Short-term relief

Answer: (A)

When a lifeguard rescue ends in a fatality, the typical enduring impact is post-traumatic stress. This condition characteristically includes intrusive memories or flashbacks of the event, avoidance of reminders, negative changes in thoughts or mood, and a state of hyperarousal that lasts for months and disrupts work and daily life. Acute stress reaction can happen soon after the incident, but it is a shorter-term response, not the persistent pattern seen with PTSD. Depressive symptoms may occur after trauma but don’t by themselves define this lasting trauma response, and short-term relief wouldn’t be expected as a lasting sign. So the lasting, trauma-related pattern described by post-traumatic stress best fits the situation.