Lifeguard Certification

ARC Lifeguard Training

Full course

The 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 aquatics emergencies and to provide care for breathing and cardiac emergencies, injuries and sudden illnesses until emergency medical services (EMS) personnel take over.

Upon completion of this course participants will receive American Red Cross certificate for Lifeguarding/First Aid/CPR/AED valid for 2 years.

Prerequisites

• Must be 15 years old on or before the final day of the course.
• Swim 300 yards continuously demonstrating breath control and rhythmic breathing. Candidates may use front crawl, breaststroke or a combination of both but swimming on the back or side is not allowed.
• Tread water for 2 minutes using only the legs.
• Complete the following events in 1 minute, 40 seconds:
  • Starting in the water, swim 20 yards. Face may be in or out of the water.
  • Surface dive, feet-first or head-first, to a depth of 7-10 feet to retrieve a 10-pound object.
  • Return to the surface and swim 20 yards on the back to return to the starting point with both hands holding the object and keeping the face at or near the surface so they are able to get a breath.
  • Exit the water without using a ladder or steps.

Length

• Approximately 25 hours and 25 minutes
• Course times may vary to include breaks

Certification Requirements

• Attend and participate in all class sessions.
• Demonstrate competency in all required skills and activities.
• Demonstrate competency in all required final rescue skill scenarios.
• Pass the CPR/AED for the Professional Rescuer, First Aid, and Lifeguarding Skills final written exams with minimum grades of 80 percent.

Review course

The purpose of a review course is to give individuals the opportunity to review the course content within a formal course setting. The review course format optimizes a participant’s ability to successfully complete the knowledge and skills evaluations.

The responsibility for preparing for the final written exam is shared by the instructor and the participant. Upon completion of this course participants will receive American Red Cross certificate for Lifeguarding/First Aid/CPR/AED valid for 2 years.

Prerequisites
Individuals with a current Lifeguarding/First Aid/CPR/AED certificate may participate in the review course.

Length

• Approximately 12 hours
• Course times may vary to include breaks.

Certification Requirements

• Attend and participate in all class sessions.
• Demonstrate competency in all required skills and activities.
• Demonstrate competency in all required final rescue skill scenarios.
• Pass the CPR/AED for the Professional Rescuer, First Aid, and Lifeguarding Skills final written exams with minimum grades of 80 percent.