The lifeguards! Glamorous though it may seem on screen, if you really set your mind on becoming a lifeguard, then there are a number of procedures, training and tests that you need to pass before you are officially called a professional lifeguard. This blog article has some tips you can use to learn what the steps are to get certified as a lifeguard.
Requirements for a Lifeguard
In order to become a lifeguard, you not only need to receive training in various disciplines, but you also need to possess the required skills and physical requirements to become certified. Here are some of the basic requirements to become a lifeguard that you have to meet before getting registered for lifeguard training.
You must be 15 years of age or older to be accepted into a lifeguard training association.
You need to be an expert swimmer, especially well versed in front crawl along with rhythmic breathing (for 100 yards), breaststroke (100 meters) and a combination of both.
He must also be able to dive to at least 7 feet, swim 20 yards and retrieves an object weighing at least 10 pounds. The object must be held above the water with both hands.
Get Certified
Once you have all of the above in order, you can go to a training institute for the relevant courses, which trains you in all the tasks required to be a lifeguard.
Make sure you approach an institute that is accredited and/or recognized by the American Lifesaving Association.
In fact, getting certified directly from the American Lifesaving Association makes more sense than taking a chance with another institute, as it may not be recognized. The American Lifesaving Association has its own website which has all the information you require about the type of training and courses that are offered.
Alternatively, you can also get yourself enrolled at an The American Lifeguard Association (ALA) for training and certification. They are also very prominent in lifeguard training near me and have centres across the country.
The training at these institutes will include cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), first aid for aquatic emergencies, rescue techniques, preventative measures, surveillance techniques, treatment of possible head and back injuries, etc.
The training will be conducted in two parts consisting of theoretical study in a classroom and then doing it practically in the water. You will have half the course in the classroom focusing on the theoretical aspect of lifeguarding and the other half in the water, where your theoretical knowledge will be put to the test.
Different institutes have different criteria for ranking and passing students for their courses.
Once the training period is over and the program is ended, then it is time to receive the certificate to officially announce that you have completed the lifeguard training and first aid including CPR and Automated External Defibrillator (AED). After this completion of lifeguard training now you are eligible to be a professional certified lifeguard.
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This makes you a certificate of being a professional lifeguard who can offer his services in public water places and save peoples’ lives. The certification that you receive from any of the aforementioned institutes is evidence that you have been well trained and are perfectly capable of handling any situation that may come your way.
Applicants must be physically and mentally fit to endure an intensive and gruelling training program in order to obtain certification as a lifeguard from the institute. American Lifeguard Association is one of the best providers of lifeguard training near you.
Once you have received the certificate, you will have to be in practice to be physically in shape which means to have physical fitness which is the key to being a lifeguard. So, follow these steps to become a lifeguard, have a good nose for sniffing out potentially dangerous situations, and have a passion for life. Nothing can stop you from becoming such a lifesaver!