American Red Cross Certification Courses

The primary purpose of the courses in the American Red Cross Lifeguarding program is to provide participants with the knowledge and skills needed to:

• Prevent, recognize, and respond to aquatic emergencies.
• Provide professional-level care for breathing and cardiac emergencies, injuries, and sudden
  illnesses until emergency medical services (EMS) professionals take over.

To participate in the Lifeguarding (Including Deep Water) course, participants must:

• Be at least 15 years old on or before the final scheduled session of the Lifeguarding course.
• Successfully complete the two prerequisite swimming skills evaluations:
  Prerequisite 1: Complete a swim-tread-swim sequence without stopping to rest:
• Jump into the water and totally submerge, resurface then swim 150 yards using the front crawl, breaststroke or a combination of both. (Swimming on the back or side is not permitted. Swim goggles are allowed)
• Maintain position at the surface of the water for 2 minutes by treading water using only the legs
• Swim 50 yards using the front crawl, breaststroke or a combination of both

Prerequisite 2: Complete a timed event within 1 minute, 40 seconds:

• Starting in the water, swim 20 yards. (The face may be in or out of the water. Swim goggles are not allowed).
• Surface dive (feet-first or head-first) to a depth of 7 – 10 feet to retrieve a 10-pound 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.

• Provide professional-level care for breathing and cardiac emergencies for adults, children, and infants until advanced emergency medical services (EMS) professionals take over.

• Be at least 16 years old on or before the final scheduled session of the course.
• Demonstrate the ability to perform the following swimming skills:
  • 1. Swim the following strokes consistent with the Stroke Performance Charts,
    Level 4:
    • Front Crawl – 25 yards
    • Back Crawl – 25 yards
    • Breaststroke – 25 yards
    • Elementary Backstroke – 25 yards
    • Sidestroke – 25 yards
    • Butterfly – 15 yards
  • 2. Maintain position on back for 1 minute in deep water (floating or sculling)
  • 3. Tread water for 1 minute

The purpose of the American Red Cross r. 24 Lifeguarding Instructor course is to train instructor candidates to teach the basic-level courses in the American Red Cross Lifeguarding program.

Course Prerequisites:

• Be at least 17 years old on or before the final scheduled session of the Lifeguarding Instructor
  course.
• Possess a current basic-level certification in American Red Cross Lifeguarding (Including Deep Water) with CPR/AED for Professional Rescuers and First Aid. (Note: r.17 Lifeguarding certification accepted)
• Obtain instructor and participant course materials before starting the course.
• Successfully complete the online session of the Lifeguarding Instructor course prior to the precourse session.
• Successfully complete the prerequisite skill assessment scenario to continue in the course. The prerequisite skill assessment scenario evaluates the following skills:
  • Entry
  • Swimming approach
  • Surface dive in deep water (7 to 10 feet)
  • Passive submerged rescue
  • Rapid extrication (with an assisting rescuer)
  • Rapid assessment
  • Single-rescuer CPR (3 minutes)