YMCA LIFEGUARD 2011

This course is designed to provide the participants with the knowledge and skills needed to be a lifeguard and professional rescuer. Participants will be certified in CPR Pro for the Professional Rescuer, Basic First Aid for the Community and Emergency Oxygen Administration. The course presents information on the skills and knowledge lifeguards need in pool, lake, river, surf, and waterpark environments. The comprehensive course offers up-to-date information on how to lifeguard by anticipating and preventing problems before they occur and by taking action to help those in danger when necessary. Course covers safety skills, accident prevention, scanning, guarding techniques, emergency systems, rescue skills, first aid in aquatic environments, spinal injury management, open water dangers, legal responsibilities, pool management, and information on how to get a job as a lifeguard. The leadership competencies this course meets for the Leader Level are: Inclusion, Influence, Communication, Decision Making, and Emotional Maturity.

Prerequisites: Minimum age of 16 by the last day of the scheduled course. Those under the age of 18 must have parental consent to participate in the course.

Pass the following three-phased Physical Competency Requirements (conducted in class on the 1st day):

Phase 1: Tread water for 2 minutes (legs only) Swim 100 yards of front crawl

Phase 2: Swim 50 yards of each: Front crawl with the head up, Breaststroke, Breaststroke with the head up, Elementary backstroke kick with hands on the chest, Perform a feet-first surface-dive in 8 to 10 feet of water (or maximum depth of training facility). Then swim underwater for 15 feet.

Phase 3: Starting in the shallow end of the water, sprint for a distance of approximately 60 feet then perform an arm-over-arm surface dive in 8 to 10 feet (or maximum depth of training facility) Pick up an object (dive ring) from the bottom of pool, surface and tread water for at least one minute with legs only, replace the object back to the bottom of the pool where it was found. Swim the remaining length to end of pool, and hoist yourself out of water Immediately begin compression on an adult manikin for one minute or 100 compressions, stand and listen to directions from instructor

NOTE: Y Lifeguard course includes CPR Pro for the Professional Rescuer, Basic First Aid and Emergency Oxygen Administration.