YMCA Lifeguard Practice Test

Which federal law protects the privacy of medical information encountered by lifeguards?

1. FERPA

2. HIPAA

3. ADA

4. COBRA

The correct answer is: HIPAA

The correct answer is HIPAA, which stands for the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act. This federal law is fundamental in protecting the privacy and security of individuals' medical information. Under HIPAA, entities that handle medical data, including healthcare providers and organizations that manage health information, are required to implement strict measures to ensure that sensitive health information is kept confidential. For lifeguards, this means that if they encounter medical information regarding individuals, whether it's in emergency situations or as part of their duties, they are bound to respect and protect the privacy of that information. HIPAA ensures that personal health information is not disclosed without the patient’s consent, thus safeguarding individuals' rights to privacy regarding their health status. While the other options pertain to various aspects of rights and privacy in different contexts, they do not specifically target the protection of medical information in the same way HIPAA does. FERPA addresses the privacy of student educational records, the ADA relates to the rights of individuals with disabilities, and COBRA is focused on health insurance coverage provisions after employment. Each of these serves important functions but does not provide the same level of privacy protection for medical information as HIPAA.