Red Cross Training

Blended Lifeguarding Class – Dates and Times

This course will prepare students to be professional lifeguards, engage in injury prevention, provide patron supervision, understand emergency preparation, perform important rescue skills, learn what to do before providing care, treating breathing and cardiac emergencies, providing CPR and using an AED, providing First Aid, treating injuries to muscles, bones, and joints, and caring for head, neck and back injuries.

Upon course completion, students receive certifications in Lifeguarding, CPR (Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation), AED (Automated External Defibrillator), First Aid, and Preventing Disease Transmission.

Red Cross certified and experienced Instructors Mike Dowell and Karen Powers will teach the course. They teach courses for the RBAC (including the adult swim classes), and in addition, have provided Lifeguard Training and in-services for the cities of Glendale and Burbank. Between them, there are over 50 years of experience.

This course is open to all individuals 15 years and older. All non-vaccinated individuals need to wear masks for the classroom part of the course. Participants must be 15 on or before the first class meeting. Attendance at all classes is required and no make-up is offered. (Manuals not included with the fee paid.)

Lifeguard Precourse – Prerequisite Swimming Skills (1st class session):

1. Swim 300 yards continuously, demonstrating breath control and rhythmic breathing. Candidates may swim using the front crawl, breaststroke, or a combination of both but swimming on the back or side is not allowed. Swim goggles may be used.
2. Tread water for 2 minutes using only the legs. Candidates should place their hands under the armpits.
3. Complete a timed event within 1 minute, and 40 seconds.
   1. Starting in the water, swim 20 yards. The face may be in or out of the water. Swim goggles are not allowed.
   2. Surface dive, feet first or head-first, to a depth of 7 to 10 feet to retrieve a 10-pound object.
   3. Return to the surface and swim 20 yards on the back to return to the starting point with both hands holding the object and keeping the face at or near the surface so they are able to get a breath. Candidates should not swim the distance underwater.
   4. Exit the water without using a ladder or steps.

Waterfront Module Prerequisite Swimming Skills (Waterfront Module Session):

1. Swim 550 yards continuously demonstrating breath control and rhythmic breathing. Candidates may swim using the front crawl, breaststroke or a combination of both but swimming on the back or side is not allowed. Swim goggles are allowed.
2. Tread water for 2 minutes using only the legs. Candidates should place their hands under the armpits.
3. Complete a timed event within 1 minute, and 40 seconds.
   1. Starting in the water, swim 20 yards. The face may be in or out of the water. Swim goggles are not allowed.
   2. Surface dive, feet first or head-first, to a depth of 7 to 10 feet to retrieve a 10-pound object.
   3. Return to the surface and swim 20 yards on the back to return to the starting point with both hands holding the object and keeping the face at or near the surface so they are able to get a breath. Candidates should not swim the distance under the water.
   4. Exit the water without using a ladder or steps.
4. Swim 5 yards, submerge and retrieve three dive rings placed 5 yards apart in 4 to 7 feet of water, resurface and continue to swim for another 5 yards to complete the skill sequence.

Don’t Forget:
● For the first class, all participants need to bring a suit, towel, goggles, and a notepad.
● For the 8-hour sessions, participants should bring a lunch.
● Upon passing the Red Cross mandated 300-yard continuous swim test and other pre-course requirements, participants will receive access to the online student textbook.

2023 Course Dates: TBA

American Red Cross Water Safety Instructor Course (WSI) – Participants enrolled in the WSI course will learn how to teach the various swim programs offered for both children and adults such as Parent and Child Aquatics, Preschool Aquatics, Learn-to-Swim Program, and more. The participants learn how to break down each of the swim strokes in order to understand how to develop that photographic eye, which is necessary to provide corrective feedback to their students.

In this process, the participants swimming proficiency improves as well. Developing comprehensive block plans, lesson plans, knowledge of all skills contained within each level, and understanding how to teach the information to their classes is emphasized in this course. This course is open to individuals 16 years and older and there will be a pre-course swim test on the first night to determine swimming proficiency.

Red Cross certified and experienced Instructors Mike Dowell and Karen Powers will teach the course. They teach courses for the RBAC (including the adult swim classes), and in addition, have provided Lifeguard Training and in-services for the RBAC. Between them, there are over 50 years of experience.

Water Safety Instructor Course Dates: TBA