Upon successful completion of the course, you will receive an American Red Cross certificate for Lifeguarding (including deep water) with CPR/AED for Professional Rescuers and First Aid and an American Red Cross certificate for Waterfront Skills, both valid for 2 years.

The purpose of this course is to provide participants with the knowledge and skills needed to:

- Lifeguarding: Prevent, recognize, and respond to aquatic emergencies in both shallow water (less than 7 feet) and deeper water (7 feet or more).
- Lifeguarding: Provide professional level care for breathing and cardiac emergencies, injuries, and sudden illnesses until emergency medical services (EMS) professionals take over.
- Waterfront Skills: Provide participants with the knowledge and skills needed to help prevent and respond to emergencies in non-surf, open-water areas found at public parks, resorts, summer camps, and campgrounds.

To learn more about the course, see https://www.redcross.org/take-a-class/lifeguarding

Prerequisites:

To participate in the course, you must be at least 15 years of age and you must pass a prerequisite swimming skills evaluation during the first in-person session:

- Prerequisite 1: You must be at least 15 years of age on or before the last session.
- Prerequisite 2: Jump in, submerge, resurface and swim 350 yards continuously, tread water for 2 minutes, and then swim 200 more yards. While swimming, you must keep your face in the water and demonstrate good breath control. You may swim using the front crawl, breaststroke, or a combination of both. Swimming on the back or side is not permitted. Swim goggles are allowed. When treading, you must use only your legs.
- Prerequisite 3: Complete a timed event within 1 minute, 40 seconds. Starting in the water, swim 20 yards. Your face may be in or out of the water. Swim goggles are not allowed. Surface dive (headfirst or feet 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.
- Prerequisite 4: Complete an underwater swim. Swim goggles are not allowed. Starting in the water, swim 5 yards. Your face may be in or out of the water. Submerge, swim underwater and retrieve three dive rings place 5 yards apart in 4 to 7 feet of water. Return to the surface after picking up all three dive rings and continue to swim for another 5 yards to complete the sequence.

Online Portion:

This course follows a blended-learning model, which combines online coursework with in-person sessions. The online portion must be completed before the first in-person session. We will send a link to registered students.

In-Person Sessions:

Saturday, June 7th, 8:30am to 6:00 pm

- Course Introduction
- Swimming Skills Evaluation
- The Professional Lifeguard and Setting the Stage for Safety
- Surveillance and Preventing Lifeguarding
- Responding to Emergencies and Rescue Skills – Part 1

Sunday, June 8th, 8:30am to 6:00 pm

- Rescue Skills – Part 2
- Lowering the Risk of Infection, Rapid Assessment and Ventilations
- CPR, AED, and Obstructed Airway Care
- First Aid for Sudden Illnesses and Injuries

Saturday, June 14^th, 8:30am to 6:00 pm

- Head, Neck and Spinal Injuries
- Unique Aspects of Waterfront Lifeguarding
- Waterfront Rescue Skills
- Final Skills Assessments
- Waterfront Written Test
- Lifeguarding Written Test
- Course Conclusion

To successfully complete this course and receive certification, you must:

- Complete all online content in advance of the in-person sessions.
- Attend the entire course and participate in all in-person sessions.
- Actively participate in all course activities, including assuming various roles during skill practices, skill drills, activities and scenarios.
- Demonstrate proficiency in all skills.
- Successfully pass the final written exam with a minimum grade of 80 percent.
- Pass all three skill assessments.

In-water portions of this course are completed in Deer Lake.

Please be aware that all skill practice sessions in the Lifeguarding course involve strenuous physical activity. If you have any concerns about your ability to participate fully in class (for example, because of a medical condition or disability), please contact us before the first in-person session to discuss possible accommodations. You may also wish to speak with a healthcare professional before the first in-person session.

American Red Cross Lifeguarding (R.24) with Waterfront Skills Module (Blended Learning)