American Red Cross Lifeguard with Waterfront Course
The American Red Cross (ARC) Lifeguard with Waterfront course is a course designed to take entry level participants with no previous knowledge and turn them into professional rescuers for pool and non-surf environments.
Typical course details: While each course may vary, most of our courses follow the following details. The goal is to provide them with the knowledge and skills needed to effectively assist others if an emergency arises.
- Each course has online and in person segments
- Online material takes approximately 7 hours to complete
- In person training is scheduled for 26 hours
- Courses begin with the pre-course (included within the 26 hours)
General schedule: Most courses are taught using the intensive format over 4 days. This lets participants complete the entire certification in a weekend and start working the day after.
- Day 1 – Pre-course skills test, entries, approaches, victim recognition, assisting distressed swimmers, rescuing an active drowning victim, rescuing a passive drowning victim
- Day 2 – Performing a primary assessment and treating breathing emergencies, treating cardiac emergencies, and first aid
- Day 3 – Rescuing a spinal victim, what to do when things don’t go as practiced, lifeguard written exam and practical skills testing
- Day 4 – Waterfront Module
- **Please note that is a general outline, sessions will be adapted based on course schedule
To participate and pass the course: Participants must meet a variety of criteria to participate and pass the course successfully.
- 15 years of age by the last day of the class
- Pass the pre-course skills test
- Attend all scheduled course time
- Pass written exams with 80% or better
- Pass scenario based skills test
Pre-course skills requirement: The 2024 update includes an all new precourse skills evaluation. Participants are required to sucessfully complete the two prerequisite swimming skills evaluation.
- Prerequisite 1: Complete a swim-tread-swim sequence without stopping to rest. Jump into the water and totally submerge, resurface then swim 350 yards using the front crawl, breaststroke, or a combination of both (swimming on the back is not permitted). Maintain position at the surface of the water for 2 minutes by treading water using only the legs. Swim 200 yards using the front crawl, breaststroke, or a combination of both. *Swim goggles are permitted and the swim is NOT timed*
- Prerequisite 2: Complete a timed event within 1 minute and 40 seconds. Starting in the water, swim 20 yards (The face may be in or out of the water, swim goggles are not permitted). Surface dive to a depth of 7-10 feet to retrieve a 10lb object. Return to the surface and swim 20 yards on the back to return to the starting point, holding the object at the surface with both hands and keeping the face out at or near the surface. Exit the water without using a ladder or steps.
- Prerequisite 3: Under water swim. Swim 5 yards, submerge and retrieve 3 dive rings placed 5 yards apart in 4-7 feet of water. Resurface and continue to swim another 5 yards.
May 24-26
Lifeguard with Waterfront Course
May 24 – 8:00-5:00pm
May 25 – 8:00-5:00pm
May 24-26
Lifeguard with Waterfront Course
May 24 – 9:00-5:30pm
May 25 – 9:00-5:30pm
May 31-June 2
Lifeguard with Waterfront Course
May 31 – 9:00-7:30pm
June 1 – 9:00-7:30pm
June 7-9
Lifeguard with Waterfront Course
June 7 – 9:00-7:30pm
June 8 – 9:00-7:30pm
June 7-9
Lifeguard with Waterfront Course
June 7 – 9:00-7:30pm
June 8 – 9:00-7:30pm
June 19-22
Lifeguard with Waterfront Course
June 19 – 8:00-5:00pm
June 21 – 8:00-5:00pm
June 21-23
Lifeguard with Waterfront Course
June 21 – 9:00-7:30pm
June 22 – 9:00-7:30pm