American Red Cross Lifeguard Certification

 We offer the American Red Cross Blended Learning program for Lifeguard Certification. Blended learning allows the classroom portion of the course to be completed online. Please see below for requirements and a quick demonstration of what the skills test will look like. We are following CDC recommended guidelines in response to the COVID pandemic and will update any changes as needed. Please feel free to email us if you have any other questions. 

Our instructors are trained by the American Red Cross for Lifeguarding, First Aid, CPR, AED, and Disease prevention courses. By taking the Lifeguard Training Course, you will learn about the duties and responsibilities of a lifeguard and how to carry them out in a professional manner. You will also learn a number of lifeguarding techniques such as recognizing a medical emergency, surveillance, how to use rescue equipment for a distressed swimmer, active drowning victim, passive drowning victim, and how to care for someone who may have a head, neck, or back injury in deep and shallow water. We offer sessions throughout Spring and Early Summer. 

Using the forms below, you will submit your payment through Stripe. If unable to pay online with a card, please contact the office for a separate form meant for cash, check, or installment payment plans. Under the installment plan, payment will be invoiced in 2 separate charges to your account. Please email us at info@gulfcoastaquatics.com or call for more information.   

The purpose of the American Red Cross Lifeguarding course is to provide entry-level lifeguard participants with the knowledge and skills to prevent, recognize, and respond to aquatic emergencies and to provide care for breathing and cardiac emergencies, injuries, and sudden illnesses until emergency medical services personnel take over. To enroll in the Lifeguarding course, you must be at least 15 years old before the last scheduled day of the class session.  

The course consists of 7.5 hours of online material, and 19.5 hrs of in-person training held over 2 1/2 days. The prerequisite skills evaluation will occur on the first day of the in-person course. Please bring a swimsuit and towel to each day of the in-person class. To successfully complete the course, you must attend the entire course, participate in all skill sessions/drills, activities, and scenarios, demonstrate competency in all required skills and scenarios, and pass the final written exams with a minimum grade of 80 percent. 

The practice sessions will require some strenuous physical activity. We encourage all participants to check with their health care professional before participating in the practice sessions. If a medical condition or disability exists that might prevent participation in course activities, or there are questions about fully participating in the Lifeguarding course, please contact our office to discuss before enrolling in a session. 

 To participate in the course, you must be able to pass a prerequisite skills evaluation that includes the following:

(please see the short video below for a demonstration)

1. Swim 300 yards, using any stroke or front crawl. You must be able to swim 12 laps continuously in any form besides swimming on your back. This is not a timed event. 

2. Tread water for 2 minutes using only the legs. You will be required to place your hands under your armpits while treading.

3. Complete a timed event within 1 minute, and 40 seconds. 

The steps for the event are as follows:

• Starting in the water, you will swim 20 yards. Your face may be in or out of the water. Swim goggles are not allowed.
• Then, you will surface dive (feet-first or head-first) to a depth of 7-10 feet to retrieve a 10-pound object.
• Upon retrieval, return to the surface and swim 20 yards on your back to the starting point. Both hands must be holding the object while keeping your face at or near the surface so you are able to breathe during the “save”. Do not swim the distance underwater. 
• Lastly, you will exit the water without using the ladder or steps.