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Why Take a Lifeguard Class
Why Take a Lifeguard Class?
If you're looking for an ideal summer job or wanting to begin a brand new career, then taking a lifeguard class is the perfect decision. For many swimmers, it is practically a rite of passage. It is an unmissable opportunity to develop your skills and make your own money. Not only that, you get to equip yourself with invaluable skills whilst reaping the benefits of being poolside all summer long. Below we will cover the many advantages of a lifeguard training course, as something fun and useful for the future.
What is Lifeguard Training and Why are Lifeguard Classes Important ?
Completing a lifeguard course allows you to be a professional rescuer who supervises other swimmers in pools, beaches, or water parks. Keep in mind that there is an age limit to become a certified lifeguard; you must be at least 15 years old by the day of your last class to get your American Aquatics and Safety Training certification. Some places may offer a training course for people younger than this but you must be 15 and over for your official lifeguard certification.
American Aquatics and Safety Training Lifeguard Training
When you are comfortable with your swimming basics enrolling in a lifeguard training course is easy. It takes roughly 25 hours to complete your lifeguard certification, with differing accelerated options to complete it if needed. To demonstrate your understanding you’ll need to attend all classes, pass the written test with a score of 80% or higher, and complete three skill scenarios.
In your training you will learn how to:
- Prevent, recognize and respond to emergencies in the water
- Provide care for breathing and cardiac injury
- Apply proper first-aid
- CPR and AED treatment
After you have passed, you will receive an American Aquatics and Safety Training certificate which is valid for two years, allowing you to apply for any lifeguard position with ease.
Swimming Test
Before completing your lifeguard certification, you should ensure that your swimming skills are up to scratch, as you must pass a required swimming test as part of training. To complete this you must swim 300 yards continuously in either front crawl or breaststroke, tread water for 2 minutes and complete a timed event.
The timed event is also known as the brick test. This is done without swim goggles and tests your swimming skills and breath control. Within 1 minute 40 seconds you have to:
- Swim 20 yards in front crawl, using rhythmic breathing, to locate the submerged brick.
- Surface dive to retrieve the brick.
- Swim back with both hands on the brick at all points without submerging it back in the water.
- Exit the water without using the ladder or steps.
How will training benefit me?
Completing a lifeguard certification helps develop your confidence, maturity, and sense of personal responsibility. Learning to make decisions that impact other people's lives can quickly develop you into a more conscientious and ethical person. Plus, being able to tell people what to do from your chair (and them actually listening) is always going to be a boost for your self-confidence. The course also provides water safety understanding, allowing you to feel more confident in the water yourself.
Lifeguard training courses provide you with essential life skills such as being able to provide emergency medical services including performing CPR on adults, children, and babies, or how to effectively use AED if someone has experienced a heart attack in the water. The first aid you learn on a lifeguarding course can be a prerequisite for future jobs so it is incredibly useful to get certified early.
Also, being a certified lifeguard gives you a CV boost and demonstrates to future employers that you can take on large amounts of responsibility with ease. This helps you stand out amongst other young people when going for jobs, the added skills and experience might just make you shine above the rest.
How will training benefit others?
Lifeguarding is not only personally enriching, but it means you directly help to keep others safe. Even when clocked out, the knowledge that lifeguard training offers means you will know the warning signs and can assist whenever needed. Knowing first aid, specifically CPR/AED, means that you can save lives on a day to day basis. You will be the exact person everyone will want to invite for a trip to the beach!
Your lifeguarding skills also cover how to deal with and care for people in a professional setting. Being able to supervise children and vulnerable people means having tact and emotional intelligence. This has so many benefits in how you interact with other people. A lifeguarding course teaches you more than just swimming or CPR, it teaches you how to be a responsible and caring person to others.
About Us
We are a nonprofit that trains and certifies in Lifeguarding, Waterfront Lifeguarding, Junior Lifeguarding, Shallow Pool Lifeguarding, Sexual Harassment Training, CPR/AED, CPR for Lifeguards, First Aid Emergency Oxygen, and swimming lessons.
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