Lifeguard Training Participant Fact Sheet

Course Number: 34700

Purpose

To give lifeguard candidates the skills and knowledge needed to prevent and respond to aquatic emergencies. The course content and activities prepare candidates to recognize emergencies, respond quickly and effectively to emergencies and prevent drownings and other incidents.

Prerequisites

• Minimum age of 15
• Swim 500 yards continuously, using these strokes in the following order: 200 yards of front crawl using rhythmic breathing and a stabilizing, propellant kick; 100 yards of breaststroke; 200 yards of front crawl using rhythmic breathing and/or breaststroke. The last 200 yards may be a mixture of front crawl and breaststroke.
• Swim 20 yards using front crawl or breaststroke, dive to a depth of 7-10 feet, retrieve a 10-pound object and return it to the surface and swim 20 yards back to the starting point.

Learning Objectives

• Understand the value of behaving in a professional manner.
• Learn how to identify behaviors of a distressed swimmer and an active or passive drowning victims.
• Understand the general procedures for a water emergency when rescuing a victim.
• Demonstrate how to perform equipment-based rescues.
• Learn how to give first aid and how to care for breathing and cardiac emergencies.
• Learn now to recognize and care for possible head, neck and back injuries.

Length

Approximately 28 1/4 hours (includes the precourse session)

Instructor

A currently authorized American Red Cross Lifeguarding Instructor (r.2001)

Certification Requirements

• Pass the one written test with a minimum grade of 80 percent or better on each section.
• Successfully complete three final skill scenarios.
• Successfully perform all critical skills.

Certificate Validity

• Lifeguard Training (including Standard First Aid) - 3 years
• CPR for the Professional Rescuer - 1 year

Participant Materials

American Red Cross Lifeguarding Training participant's manual (655720)

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