Lifeguard Training

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General Information

The Seattle Parks and Recreation teaches American Red Cross Lifeguard Training. This course is approximately 30 hours in length and includes Lifeguard Training, Community First aid and Safety, CPR for the Professional Rescuer/AED. There is also an optional 4 hour module that helps prepare students for the Northwest Lifeguard Test.

This American Red Cross course is your first step in becoming a lifeguard for the City of Seattle. The purpose of the Lifeguard Training Course is to train, educate and test an individual’s ability to be a professional lifeguard.

Learning and testing elements include:

• Being a professional lifeguard
• Interacting with the public
• Preventing aquatic injuries
• Swimmer and facility surveillance
• Rescue skills
• Being prepared for emergencies
• First aid for injuries and sudden illness
• Spinal injury management
• CPR/AED and emergency care

PREREQUISITES:

• Must be 15 years old. (Must present documentation of age)
  
• Must swim 500 yards continuously, using the following strokes in order: 200 yards of front crawl using rhythmic breathing and a stabilizing, propellant kick. 100 yards of breaststroke. 200 yards of either front crawl using rhythmic breathing or breaststroke.
  
• Swim 20 yards using front crawl or breaststroke, surface dive to a depth of 7-10 feet, retrieve a 10-pound object, return to the surface, and swim 20 yards back to the starting point.
  
• Candidates must attend all sessions in order to pass the course.

MORE INFORMATION

• Payment is required in order to register for the class. Please contact the pool to make a reservations, and for further information about fees and textbooks.
• If participant is under 18 years of age, a parent/guardian must sign a permission/registration form.
• Space is limited, registration will be done on a first come first serve basis.
• Lifeguarding and First Aid certifications are valid for three years.
• CPR for the Professional Rescuer/AED is valid for one year.