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Nebraska Lifeguard Training

The United States Lifesaving Association (USLA) defines a lifeguard as any employee of an ocean, bay, lake, river or other open-water rescue service. Since USLA was founded in 1964, incidents of drowning and nonfatal watersport injuries has significantly decreased. The American Red Cross is the primary vendor for lifeguard training classes in the state of Nebraska. The classes are taught at various sites across the state.

  1. Objective

    • The American Red Cross requires Nebraska lifeguards to receive certification. Training classes conducted by programs such as the YMCA or those taken directly through the American Red Cross are designed to give students the skills they need to prepare them for certification. In Nebraska, classes are targeted toward lifeguards who will employ their rescue efforts at public and private swimming pools and lakes.

    Significance

    • Lifeguard training and certification can save lives. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) reported 3,582 unintentional drownings in the United States in 2005. More than 25 percent of drowning victims are children 14 or younger. Nonfatal drownings can cause brain damage resulting in long-term disabilities or permanent loss of basic functioning.

    Training Programs

    • Community pools and the YMCA are the two most popular training sites for lifeguards in Nebraska. The Heartland, Prairie Valley, Ft. Kearney and Cornhusker Regional chapters of the American Red Cross offer certification programs ranging from $150 to $185 per session; recertification programs range from $60 to $75. There are several YMCA sites that host American Red Cross training starting at $150 (YMCA members receive a discount).

    Training Curriculum

    • Nebraska lifeguards are trained in various lifesaving efforts, how to prevent drownings and how to educate the public about water safety. They learn the skills necessary for cardiopulmonary respiration (CPR) and first aid. They also learn advanced lifesaving tools, such as the usage of external defibrillators and portable oxygen machines.

    Training Prerequisites

    • The American Red Cross requires lifeguards to be at least 15 years old by the final day of class and pass a screening of their skill levels on the first day of class. Students must be able to swim 300 yards continuously, using three strokes in the following order: 100-yard front crawl with rhythmic breathing and stabilizing propellant kick; 100-yard breaststroke with correct technique; and 100 yards either front crawl with rhythmic breathing or breaststroke. Students also must be able to swim 20 yards using the front crawl or breaststroke, then surface dive 7 to 10 feet, retrieve a 10-pound object and return to the starting point with the object. Upon return to the starting point, the student must be able to hold the object with both hands, keep his face above water and complete the objective within 1 minute, 30 seconds.

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