Lifeguard training

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The primary purpose of the American Red Cross Lifeguarding course is to provide entry-level lifeguard participants with the knowledge and skills to prevent, recognize and respond to aquatic emergencies and to provide professional-level care for breathing and cardiac emergencies, injuries, and sudden illnesses until emergency medical services (EMS) personnel take over. This program offers a choice of Lifeguarding/First Aid/CPR/AED courses to meet the various training needs of a diverse audience.

• Shallow Water Lifeguard Candidates must be at least 15 years of age on or before the final scheduled session of the course.
• Participants must complete the 2 following prerequisites to be in the class.
• Participants Must complete the following sequence:
  – Jump into the water from the side, totally submerge, recover to the surface and swim 50 yards. 
  After swimming 50 yards, maintain your position at the surface of the water without support for 2 minutes by treading using only your legs, floating, or a combination of both. After maintaining position at the surface of the water for 2 minutes, swim 50 more yards. 
  – While swimming, you must swim continuously, keeping your face in the water and demonstrating good breath control. 
  – You may use the front crawl, breaststroke or a combination of both. Swimming on the back or side is not permitted. 
  – Swim goggles are allowed
• You have 50 seconds to complete the following sequence.
  – Starting in the water, swim 20 yards. Your face may be in or out of the water. 
  – Submerge to a depth of 4 to 7 feet to retrieve a 10-pound object. 
  – Return to the surface and walk or swim 20 yards on your back to return to the starting point, holding the object at the surface with both hands and keeping your face at or near the surface. Swimming the distance underwater is not permitted. 
  – Exit the water without using a ladder or the steps. 

• Lifeguard Candidates must be at least 15 years of age on or before the final scheduled session of the course.
• Participants must complete the 2 following prerequisites to be in the class.
• – Participants must complete the following sequence:
  – Jump into the water from the side, totally submerge, recover to the surface and swim 150 yards. 
  – After swimming 150 yards, maintain position at the surface of the water without support for 2 minutes by treading. 
  – After maintaining position at the surface of the water for 2 minutes, swim 50 more yards. 
  – While swimming, you must swim continuously, keeping your face in the water and demonstrating good breath control. 
  – You may use the front crawl, breaststroke or a combination of both. Swimming on the back or side is not permitted. 
  – Swim goggles are allowed. 
• Goggles are not allowed for the timed event. 
  – You have 1 minute, 40 seconds to complete the following sequence. Starting in the water, swim 20 yards. Your face may be in or out of the water. 
  – Surface dive (feet-first or head-first) to a depth of 7 to 10 feet to retrieve a 10-pound object. 
  – Return to the surface and swim 20 yards on your back to return to the starting point, holding the object at the surface with both hands and keeping your face at or near the surface. Swimming the distance underwater is not permitted. 
  – Exit the water without using a ladder or the steps.