CPR & Lifeguard Certification

When becoming a certified lifeguard, one is required to learn basic cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). In addition, students are taught to prevent danger around pools and beaches, reduce risk of disease transmission and use tools, such as oxygen delivery devices. By the end of the class, students will have all rescue skills necessary to be an effective lifeguard and have the chance to make money lifeguarding during the warm months.

Classes

• If a potential lifeguard knows where he would like to work, he should call that facility and ask if there are openings for lifeguard positions, as well as the certifications they recommend. The American Red Cross has chapters all over the United States and certifies students in lifeguarding and water safety. These classes typically last five days and cost between $200-$300 for CPR, first aid, and lifeguard-specific rescue skills.

Introduction

• The introduction to an accredited lifeguarding class will go over the meaning of professionalism as a lifeguard. This includes covering the work settings a lifeguard can expect, what types of decisions a lifeguard may have to make, legal considerations and how to work with allies such as management, beach patrol and Emergency Medical Services.

Prevention

• Before a student is taught lifesaving skills, she will be asked to understand injury-prevention strategies. Methods of effective surveillance, safety checks and how to handle different weather conditions are included in this unit. The student will also be taught to enforce rules firmly and effectively with children, teenagers and adults.

Planning

• Students are encouraged to go over their facility's specific emergency plans. Instructors of lifeguard certification classes will go over what pool and beach emergency plans might look like and provide hypothetical examples of emergency situations and appropriate responses. Students will also be shown how to report incidents.

Rescue

• Lifeguarding certification is an active class in which students will have to demonstrate rescue skills around and in the water. After going over general procedures for a water emergency, students will be shown how to use emergency equipment. Next students will practice water entry, rescue approaches, assists, rescues at or near the surface, how to rescue a submerged victim, escapes, multiple-victim rescue, removing victims from the water and special situations, as outlined by the American Red Cross "Lifeguarding" manual.

Safety

• Students take a blood-borne pathogens unit to understand the risk of disease transmission and how to prevent it. They will briefly be taught how pathogens spread, what to do if exposed to infectious material and how to report exposure incidents.

Skills

• Students are taught the following lifesaving skills: how to detect an airway obstruction, how to open and clear an airway, how to use emergency oxygen devices, how to perform rescue breathing and chest compressions (CPR), how to use automatic external defibrillators (AEDs), and first aid for sudden illness, bites and stings, poisoning, wounds, injuries and heat- and cold-related emergencies. They will also be taught how to care for head, neck and back injuries.