Lifeguard Certification Courses have completed for the 2024 Summer Season. Check back in March 2025 for details about the 2025 Lifeguard Certification Courses being offered.

Veterans Memorial Pool offers the Blended Learning Course format of the American Red Cross Lifeguard Certification Course:

• 7.5 hours Independent Online Learning Portion
• 19.5 hours Group In Person Learning Portion at Veterans Memorial Pool

Step 1: Online Learning Portion

Two weeks before the course start date, candidates will receive a link and access to the Red Cross Learning Center.

This site contains access to the Online Learning Portion, consisting of the Lifeguard Training Manual and Lifeguard Training Videos that cover various skills and techniques associated with lifeguarding, CPR/AED and First Aid

Candidates MUST complete the Online Learning Portion before the course start date, finish and pass all training videos AND be familiar with and able to perform the skills shown in these materials.

Step 2: Prerequisite Skills Assessment

On the course start date candidates will report to Veterans Memorial Pool for the Prerequisite SWIM-TREAD-SWIM Skills Assessment:

Swim 300 Yards

• Swim 300 yards continuously
• Demonstrate breath control and rhythmic breathing
• Use freestyle/front crawl or breaststroke or both
• Swimming on the back or side is not allowed
• Swim goggles are allowed

Tread Water for Two Minutes

• Tread water for 2 minutes using legs only
• Hands can be held out of water or under the armpits

Swim Brick Test Under 1 Minute, 40 Seconds

• Start in the water, swim 20 yards with face in or out of the water
• Surface dive, feet-first or head-first, to a depth of 7 to 10 feet to retrieve a 10 pound brick
• Return to the surface
• Swim 20 yards on the back with both hands holding brick on chest, face is at or near the surface to continuously breathe
• Place brick on deck and exit the water without using a ladder or steps
• Underwater swimming is not allowed
• Swim goggles are not allowed

Candidates who successfully complete the Prerequisite Skills Assessment will move on to the IN PERSON Learning Portion of the course.

Candidates who DO NOT successfully complete the Prerequisite Skills Assessment can request to be added to the next course offered and attempt again OR request a refund for the course.

Step 3: IN PERSON Learning Portion

Throughout the IN PERSON Learning Portion candidates will apply the skills and techniques covered in the Online Learning Portion to on-land and in-water scenarios, supervised under the guidance of certified American Red Cross Lifeguard Training Instructors

Multiple factors and methods to perform an emergency water rescue are covered, such as:

• Rescue Equipment
• Assists
• Entries
• Approaches
• Escapes
• Rescue Techniques
• Removals
• CPR, Oxygen and AED Use
• First Aid, Personal Protective Equipment and Pathogen management

Step 4: TEST OUT Portion

On the final day of the IN PERSON Learning Portion, candidates will TEST OUT:

Two Written Multiple Choice Tests

• Lifeguard Certification Test
• CPR/First Aid Certification Test

Three Final Skills Assessments

• Individual Timed Response
• Surveillance Skills
• Multiple Rescuer Response

Candidates who have actively participated in all sessions, successfully demonstrated all skills in the course and successfully completed the lifeguarding written exams and final skills assessments will be awarded an American Red Cross Lifeguarding Certificate

BONUS: Lifeguards who work 400 hours in the 2024 Season at Veterans Memorial Pool will be refunded $150.00 of their training costs!

Sign up today for your chance to be a true life saver!

Register for Lifeguard Certification