Waterfront Lifeguard Training

The primary purpose of the American Red Cross Lifeguarding with Waterfront Skills course is to provide lifeguard participants with the knowledge and skills to prevent, recognize and respond to aquatic emergencies and to provide professional-level care for breathing and cardiac emergencies, injuries, and sudden illnesses until emergency medical services (EMS) personnel take over. The waterfront module teaches lifeguards the skills and knowledge needed to prevent and respond to emergencies in non-surf, open-water areas found at public parks, resorts, summer camps and campgrounds.

WFLG prerequisites:

• Swim-Tread-Swim Sequence
  • Jump into the water, totally submerge, recover to the surface and swim 350 yards.
  • After swimming 350 yards, immediately maintain position at the surface of the water for 2 minutes by treading water using only the legs.
  • After treading for 2 minutes, immediately swim 200 more yards.
    • While swimming, you must swim continuously, keeping your face in the water and demonstrating good breath control, while keeping your body horizontal in the water.
    • You may use the front crawl, breaststroke or a combination of both. Swimming on the back or side is not permitted.
    • Swim goggles are allowed.
    • You cannot hold the wall or lane line at any point in the sequence.
    • While treading, you can only use your legs and must keep your body in a vertical position.
    • Place your hands under your armpits.
    • Your head must remain above the surface of the water.
• Timed Event
  • Complete a timed event within 1 minute, 40 seconds.
    • Starting in the water, swim 20 yards on the surface.
    • Surface dive (feet-first or head-first) to a depth of 7 to 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 at or near the surface.
    • Exit the water without using a ladder or steps.
• Underwater swim
  • Swim five yards, submerge and retrieve three dive rings spaced five yards apart. Return to the surface and swim five yards, then exit the water.

Upon successful completion of this course, participants will receive an American Red Cross Lifeguarding with CPR/AED For the Professional Rescuer, First Aid and Waterfront Skills certificate, valid for two years.

Options available:

• Blended learning, please contact us for details.