• Bring your swimsuit, towel, extra clothes, snacks and, lunch each day.
• Lifeguard manuals and resuscitation mask masks be provided.

Candidates must:
1. Be at least 15 years old on or before the final scheduled session of the course.
2. Swim 300 yards, continuously demonstrating breath control and rhythmic breathing.
Candidates may swim using the front crawl, breaststroke, or a combination of both, but
swimming on the back or side is not allowed. Swim goggles may be used.
3. Tread water for 2 minutes, using only the legs. Candidates should place their hands under
the armpits.
4. Complete a timed event within 1 minute, 40 seconds:
▪ Starting in the water, swim 20 yards. Swim goggles are not allowed.
▪ Surface dive, feet-first or headfirst, 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 with
both hands holding the object and keeping the face at or near the surface so they can get a breath.
▪ Exit the water without using a ladder or steps.

Candidates must: ▪ Meet the age requirement. ▪ Demonstrate proficiency in all of the prerequisite skills. ▪ Describe the characteristics and responsibilities of a professional lifeguard. ▪ Explain how to fulfill the responsibilities of a professional lifeguard ▪ Define certain legal considerations and apply them to situations that might be encountered in lifeguarding. ▪ Describe ongoing training for lifeguards. ▪ Describe what it means to work as part of a lifeguard and safety team. ▪ Describe the role lifeguards play in ensuring facility safety. ▪ Identify how to ensure the safety of patrons when weather conditions create safety concerns. ▪ Describe the role that facility management plays in facility safety. ▪ Describe the drowning process. ▪ Identify the behaviors of a swimmer, a distressed swimmer, and an active and a passive victim. ▪ Identify and define elements of effective surveillance. ▪ Explain proper scanning techniques and identify tactics to overcome scanning challenges. ▪ Identify various types of zones of surveillance. ▪ Explain how communication with patrons plays a role in preventing ▪ Explain patron surveillance techniques for various activities. ▪ Explain patron surveillance techniques for facilities with special attractions. ▪ Explain and demonstrate lifeguard rotations. ▪ Demonstrate how to perform effective surveillance including scanning, victim recognition, and lifeguard rotations. ▪ Explain various types of drills that test lifeguard zones, recognition, and response. ▪ Explain patron surveillance techniques for organized groups. ▪ Explain the purpose and general procedures of an emergency action plan (EAP). ▪ Demonstrate how to safely and effectively assist a distressed swimmer, rescue an active and passive victim, and rescue multiple victims. ▪ Demonstrate the ability to implement an EAP and perform a rescue. ▪ Demonstrate how to safely and effectively rescue a submerged victim in shallow or deep water. ▪ Demonstrate how to safely and effectively perform feet-first and head-first surface dives. ▪ Demonstrate how to safely and effectively extricate an unresponsive victim from the water using a backboard. ▪ Describe what standard precautions to take to prevent disease transmission when providing care. ▪ Demonstrate how to put on gloves in a wet environment. ▪ Describe what standard precautions to take to prevent disease transmission when providing care. ▪ Demonstrate proper removal of disposable gloves. ▪ Describe the general procedures for injury or sudden illness on land. ▪ Identify items of concern when performing a scene size-up and forming an initial impression. ▪ Demonstrate how to perform a primary assessment for adults, children, and infants and place a victim in a recovery position. ▪ Identify victim conditions that indicate the need to summon emergency medical services (EMS) personnel. ▪ Understand how to safely and effectively move a victim on land. ▪ Demonstrate how to use a resuscitation mask. ▪ Recognize and care for a breathing emergency. ▪ Demonstrate how to safely and effectively give ventilations. ▪ Demonstrate how to safely and effectively use a bag-valve-mask (BVM) resuscitation with two rescuers. ▪ Demonstrate how to safely and effectively care for an obstructed airway for a responsive and an unresponsive victim. ▪ Demonstrate the ability to work as a team to implement an EAP, perform a rescue, and perform emergency care. ▪ Identify the five links in the Adult and Pediatric Cardiac Chain of Survival and identify the importance of each. ▪ Recognize the signs of a heart attack. ▪ Identify the steps for caring for a victim of a heart attack. ▪ Identify signs and symptoms of cardiac arrest. ▪ Demonstrate how to safely and effectively perform one-rescuer CPR and two-rescuer CPR. ▪ Demonstrate how to use an automated external defibrillator (AED). ▪ Identify precautions for using an AED. ▪ Identify how to recognize and care for a victim of poisoning, heat-related illnesses, and cold-related emergencies. ▪ Demonstrate the ability to work as a team to implement an EAP, perform a secondary assessment, and provide first aid care. ▪ Identify possible causes of head, neck, or spinal injuries on land. ▪ Identify signs and symptoms of head, neck, or spinal injuries. ▪ Demonstrate how to care for victims with head, neck or spinal injuries on land. ▪ Demonstrate how to perform front and rear head-hold escapes. ▪ Demonstrate how to give in-water ventilations. ▪ Demonstrate how to perform a quick extrication of a victim from the water. ▪ Demonstrate how to care for victims with head, neck, and spinal injuries in shallow and deep water. ▪ Demonstrate how to care for a victim with a head, neck, or spinal injury in shallow water. ▪ Demonstrate how to rescue an active victim in deep water. ▪ Demonstrate how to rescue a submerged passive victim in deep water and provide care.

▪ Instructor-Led: 28 hours, 35 minutes ▪ Blended Learning: 7 hours eLearning and 19 hours 45 minutes in-person.

Currently certified lifeguarding instructors or instructor trainers.

Candidates must: ▪ Attend the entire course and participate in all class sessions. ▪ Actively participate in all course activities, including assuming various roles during scenarios. ▪ Demonstrate competency in all required skills. ▪ Pass the final skills scenarios. ▪ Successfully pass final written exams with a minimum grade of 80%. If a participant fails to reach the minimum 80% on the final written exam, a retest is allowed using the other version of the exam, provided that the participant has passed the practical assessment. ▪ Blended Learning only: complete all eLearning modules.

The American Red Cross certificate for Lifeguarding/First Aid/CPR/AED is valid for 2 years.

American Red Cross Lifeguarding Manual.

Program credit will be issued only if the YMCA cancels a program due to insufficient numbers required to conduct the class. We do not have a refund policy.