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Four lifeguards with equipment by a pool

Lifeguarding

Provides entry-level participants the knowledge and skills to prevent, recognize and respond to aquatic emergencies and to provide care for breathing and cardiac emergencies, injuries and sudden illnesses until EMS personnel take over.

Prerequisites:

Minimum age: 15 years

Swim 300 yards continuously

Tread water for 2 minutes using only the legs

Complete a timed event within 1 minute, 40 seconds:

Starting in the water, swim 20 yards

Surface dive to a depth of 7 to 10 feet to retrieve a 10-pound object

Return to the surface and swim 20 yards on the back to return to the starting point

Exit the water without using a ladder or steps

Lifeguarding

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Lifeguard trainer and students with swimming class certificates

Swimming & Water Safety

Our six-level Learn-to-Swim program is unlike anything offered by other learn to swim programs. The program is designed for children over 6 years all the way up to adults, and students progress through the levels at their own pace, mastering the skills in one level before advancing to the next. Each level of our Learn-to-Swim class includes training in basic water safety and helping others in an emergency, in addition to stroke development. Course length: Varies by location. Courses typically meet for 8-10 sessions of 30-45 minutes each.

Swimming & Water Safety

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Safety Training for Swim Coaches

This program teaches professionals involved in competitive swimming how to help maintain a comfortable and safe environment for swimmers; prevent accidents and emergencies; and respond to swimmers with illnesses or injuries in water or on land. This 3-hour online course, in combination with the Safety Training for Swim Coaches In-Water Skills Session, helps meet the coaches safety education requirement for USA Swimming and YMCA swim coaches. To find an in-water skills session, contact your local aquatic facility and ask for Red Cross training (Red Cross Lifeguarding or Water Safety Instructors can offer this session), LSC registrar or YMCA group representative. The in-water skills session is not required for those currently certified in Lifeguarding/First Aid/CPR/AED, Shallow Water Lifeguarding/First Aid/CPR/AED or Aquatic Attractions Lifeguarding/First Aid/CPR/AED.

Safety Training for Swim Coaches

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Lifeguard with students floating in pool

Aquatic Instructor Training

This course trains Water Safety Instructor candidates to teach courses and presentations in the American Red Cross Swimming and Water Safety program by developing their understanding of how to use the course materials, how to conduct training sessions and how to evaluate participants' progress. The courses and presentations include Parent and Child Aquatics Levels 1 and 2, Preschool Aquatics Levels 1 - 3, Learn-to-Swim Levels 1 - 6, three adult courses as well as the Basic Water Rescue and Personal Water Safety courses and more. To enroll, instructor candidates must be at least 16 years of age on or before the last day of the instructor course and successfully complete the precourse session which includes demonstration of swimming skill at Learn-to-Swim Level 4.

Aquatic Instructor Training

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Lifeguard Management

The Lifeguard Management course is designed to prepare aquatic professionals to effectively manage lifeguards and help keep patrons, staff and facilities safe. This highly interactive, 3.5-hour course is completely online and includes video lessons, scenario-based activities and a final exam. There are no prerequisites for this course. The person may or may not have a lifeguarding background, and may manage seasonal or year-round operations. Successful participants receive a certificate that is valid for 2 years.

Lifeguard Management

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CPR/AED for Professional Rescuers and Healthcare Providers

To train professional-level rescuers to respond to breathing and cardiac emergencies in adults, children and infants until more advanced medical personnel take over. This course has been updated to meet the ECC 2010 guidelines. This course combines online learning and a classroom skills session. Online learning must be completed prior to attending the classroom session. Details will be included via email once you register. This course will not work in Google Chrome. Please be sure to complete the online content before coming to the skill session.

CPR/AED for Professional Rescuers and Healthcare Providers

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Small Craft Safety

This training is intended for individuals associated with youth organizations, such as the American Camp Association and Girl Scouts of the USA. Participants should be skilled in handling canoes and kayaks. This course includes a core lesson of basic water rescue knowledge and skills needed for self rescue and to assist others and information on small craft accident prevention, trip planning, supervision and emergency preparation and response. Participants must still gain the in-water skills needed to respond to a small craft emergency. There is no in-water skills session connected to this offering; it is intended only for those who will receive further in-person skills training as part of an environment-specific training session. For more information on the in-person skills training, contact ACA or GSUSA camp personnel. For a course that includes the in-water skills session, select the appropriate Small Craft Safety course option that does not have 'online content only' in its title.

Small Craft Safety

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