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The purpose of the American Red Cross Waterfront
Lifeguarding course is to teach candidates
the knowledge and skills needed to prevent and respond to
aquatic emergencies both in a pool and
at a waterfront environment. The course content and activities
prepare candidates to recognize and
respond quickly and effectively to emergencies and prevent
drownings and injuries.
Successful completion requires participation in
skills practice. The practice sessions will
require some strenuous physical activity. You are
encouraged to check with your healthcare
professional before participating in the practice
sessions. If a medical condition or disability
exists that might prevent participation in the
activities, or there are questions about
fully participating in the Waterfront Lifeguarding
course, please contact Bethel to discuss this
before the course begins.
To enroll in the Waterfront Lifeguarding course,
you must be at least 15 years of age before
the last scheduled class session.
What to
bring (required):
Preliminary Requirements
To participate
in the Waterfront Lifeguarding course, you
must be able to demonstrate the following skills
in the first class session (TBA, 9:00am):
Preliminary Requirements will
be performed in our lake.
If you are not a
strong swimmer
or comfortable
diving to the bottom of 12' deep dark murky water this class is
not for you.
Strong Swimming Ability:
1)
Swim 550 yards continuously, using these strokes in the
following order:
-
200 yards of front crawl
using rhythmic breathing and a stabilizing, propellant kick.
Rhythmic breathing can be performed either by
breathing to the side or to the front.
-
200 yards of breaststroke
using a pull, breathe, kick and glide sequence.
-
150 yards of either the front
crawl or breaststroke. The 150 yards may be a combination
of front crawl and breaststroke.
Strong Kick:
2)
Starting in the water, swim 20 yards using front crawl or
breaststroke, surface dive 7–10 feet,
retrieve a 10-pound object, return to the surface, swim 20 yards
back to the starting point with the
object held at chest level with both hands
(swimming with the object is 'legs only', you are not permitted
to use your hands) and exit the water without using a ladder or steps,
within 1 minute, 40 seconds.
Comfort in water and ability to hold breath:
3) Swim
5 yards, submerge and retrieve three dive rings placed 5 yards
apart in 4–7 feet of water, resurface
and swim 5 yards to the side of the dock.
The skills evaluation will occur on the first
day of the course. If
you cannot perform the above 3 skills you cannot participate in
the class (a full refund will be given). Please bring a swimsuit and
towel for the skills evaluation and for every class.
Upon successful completion of the Waterfront
Lifeguarding course, each participant will
receive an American Red Cross Universal Certificate—indicating
Lifeguarding/Waterfront/First Aid, which is valid for 3
years, and an American Red Cross Universal Certificate
indicating CPR/AED for the Professional Rescuer,
which is valid for 1 year. |
