Lifeguards are first responders who work in conjunction with emergency medical services personnel, law enforcement officers, rescue squad members and other trained personnel to provide water rescue services in swimming pools, beaches, lakes, rivers and other bodies of water.
Lifeguards have the responsibility to maintain a safe environment for swimmers, surfers and other water users by providing lifesaving training, monitoring activities, maintaining a safe environment and providing prompt response to emergencies.
What is Lifeguard Certification?
Lifeguard training with recertification is necessary when you need to make it a career. Lifeguarding is a job that requires a lot of patience and persistence. You’ll have to stand still while swimmers go around you, dive into the water, and even swim underwater.
You may have to keep an eye on the kids and their safety while they enjoy themselves. This course makes you attentive and focused and always ready for any emergency. It’s not always easy. But you’ll also get to meet new people and make new friends along the way.
Lifeguard certification is the only way to become a professional.
There are four levels of certification:
Basic Lifeguard, Intermediate Lifeguard, Advanced Lifeguard, and Master Lifeguard.
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Basic Lifeguard:
This is the entry-level certification for lifeguards and provides the basic skills and knowledge needed to perform as a lifeguard. Basic Lifeguards must pass an examination and obtain a certificate.
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Intermediate Lifeguard:
This certification requires that Basic Lifeguards have successfully completed the BLS training and have been on duty for at least 30 days. You have to pass an examination to obtain this intermediate certification.
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Advanced Lifeguard:
This certification is obtained by passing a comprehensive exam which includes all the areas required to be a lifeguard. The Advanced Lifeguard certification is the minimum standard to be a lifeguard.
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Master Lifeguard:
This certification is obtained by passing a comprehensive exam and providing a minimum of 100 hours of experience.
All of these levels are updated after one year of service at some pool of beach to get a lifeguard recertification. You can recertify each level every two years. In addition to the four certification levels, there are also two subcategories of certification:
- Lifeguard First Aid
- Lifeguard CPR
What is Lifeguard First Aid?
Lifeguard First Aid is the basic first aid that we use in our lifeguarding course. It is a life-saving skill and an integral part of the lifeguarding course. This includes treating burns, cuts, fractures, sprains, snake bites, and any other injuries to the body that could result in serious harm or even death. It is also used to treat wounds caused by sharp objects, such as glass, needles, and broken glass.
What is Lifeguard CPR?
Lifeguard CPR is the latest in the evolution of CPR. It combines the best of traditional CPR with the most current life-saving techniques and is designed for use by all personnel who provide CPR. Lifeguard CPR can be used to save a victim’s life in the ocean, pool, or on a beach or dock. Lifeguard CPR is an excellent tool to have available to you when you encounter an injured or drowning person.
All lifeguard recertification programs are self-paced, with a variety of methods for learning. The Basic Lifeguard program is designed to provide the basic skills required by a lifeguard. The program is primarily taught in the classroom, with an emphasis on water safety and rescue techniques.
A minimum of 50 hours of classroom instruction and 150 hours of supervised lifeguarding experience are required before you can take the exam. You can take the test at any time during your training period, but most people take it in the summer or fall.
Final Words:
Lifeguarding is a very important job and requires professional training from a well-reputed organization such as the American Lifeguard Association or the American Red Cross. After the certification, you need to get a lifeguard recertification at fixed periods of time to continue working as a lifeguard.
The American lifeguard Association is providing world-class lifeguard training for more than 30 years now and has trained lifeguards all over the world. If you are looking for lifeguard recertification, we encourage you to contact us for more detail to find a lifeguard training program near you.