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Red Cross Lifeguarding + Waterfront Skills, March 26-29, 2026
The Red Cross LIFEGUARDING course provides participants the knowledge and skills to prevent recognize and respond to aquatic emergencies in both shallow water (less than 7 feet) and deeper water (7 feet or more) and to provide professional-level care for breathing and cardiac emergencies injuries and sudden illnesses until EMS personnel take over.
The Red Cross WATERFRONT SKILLS module, integrated into the Lifeguarding course, equips lifeguards with the knowledge and skills to prevent and respond to emergencies in non-surf, open-water areas like parks, resorts, and camps.
Key Skills and Knowledge:
Water Rescue Techniques: Lifeguards learn how to enter the water for rescues, including run-and-swim entries, and techniques for assisting individuals in distress.
Search and Retrieval: Learn search patterns and techniques for locating missing persons in open water, potentially using equipment like nets or masks and fins.
Equipment: Learn to use equipment specific to waterfront environments, such as rescue tubes, surfboards, or paddleboards, depending on the environment.
First Aid and CPR: The course reinforces first aid and CPR/AED skills, essential for responding to emergencies in and out of the water.
Water Safety: Learn about the specific hazards of open-water environments, such as currents, depths, and aquatic life, and how to mitigate these risks.
Environmental Awareness: Gain knowledge about the specific waterfront environment where they are lifeguarding, including potential hazards and safety protocols.
Course Structure:
This class is taught in a blended learning format and the assigned online portion(s) must be completed prior to the instructor-led session.
The in-person portion is delivered over two weekday evenings (Thursday / Friday) and two full weekend days (Saturday / Sunday).
The final skills assessment includes timed response scenarios, surveillance rotations, and multiple-rescuer response scenarios.
Run of the program:
Thursday session: 5p - 9p
Friday session: 3p - 7p
Saturday session: 7:30a - 6:00p
Sunday session: 7:30a - 6:00p
Prerequisites:
Open to anyone 15 years and up
Must be able to complete a swim- tread-swim sequence: Jump into the water submerge resurface swim 150 yards (using the front crawl breaststroke or a combination of both) maintain position at the surface of the water for 2 minutes by treading water using only the legs then swim 50 yards using the front crawl breaststroke or a combination of both.
Must be able to complete a timed event within 1 minute 40 seconds by starting in the water swimming 20 yards surface dive (feet-first or head-first) to a depth of 7 to 12 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 hand exit the water without using a ladder or steps.
Certification: Participants who successfully complete this course receive an American Red Cross certificate for Lifeguarding (including deep water) with CPR/AED for Professional Rescuers and First Aid valid for 2 years.
Trainers: Marlys Cappaert, SwimTrek & Dena Marshall, WaterStrong
Equipment: Participants should wear comfortable clothing, and bring a notebook, swimwear and towels, water bottle, a light meal/snacks.
WaterStrong is 501c3 non-profit organization with the mission to end drowning and promote cleaner, safer waters, destroying barriers along the way. All proceeds from this training support WaterStrong family programs for low income and underserve families.
The Red Cross LIFEGUARDING course provides participants the knowledge and skills to prevent recognize and respond to aquatic emergencies in both shallow water (less than 7 feet) and deeper water (7 feet or more) and to provide professional-level care for breathing and cardiac emergencies injuries and sudden illnesses until EMS personnel take over.
The Red Cross WATERFRONT SKILLS module, integrated into the Lifeguarding course, equips lifeguards with the knowledge and skills to prevent and respond to emergencies in non-surf, open-water areas like parks, resorts, and camps.
Key Skills and Knowledge:
Water Rescue Techniques: Lifeguards learn how to enter the water for rescues, including run-and-swim entries, and techniques for assisting individuals in distress.
Search and Retrieval: Learn search patterns and techniques for locating missing persons in open water, potentially using equipment like nets or masks and fins.
Equipment: Learn to use equipment specific to waterfront environments, such as rescue tubes, surfboards, or paddleboards, depending on the environment.
First Aid and CPR: The course reinforces first aid and CPR/AED skills, essential for responding to emergencies in and out of the water.
Water Safety: Learn about the specific hazards of open-water environments, such as currents, depths, and aquatic life, and how to mitigate these risks.
Environmental Awareness: Gain knowledge about the specific waterfront environment where they are lifeguarding, including potential hazards and safety protocols.
Course Structure:
This class is taught in a blended learning format and the assigned online portion(s) must be completed prior to the instructor-led session.
The in-person portion is delivered over two weekday evenings (Thursday / Friday) and two full weekend days (Saturday / Sunday).
The final skills assessment includes timed response scenarios, surveillance rotations, and multiple-rescuer response scenarios.
Run of the program:
Thursday session: 5p - 9p
Friday session: 3p - 7p
Saturday session: 7:30a - 6:00p
Sunday session: 7:30a - 6:00p
Prerequisites:
Open to anyone 15 years and up
Must be able to complete a swim- tread-swim sequence: Jump into the water submerge resurface swim 150 yards (using the front crawl breaststroke or a combination of both) maintain position at the surface of the water for 2 minutes by treading water using only the legs then swim 50 yards using the front crawl breaststroke or a combination of both.
Must be able to complete a timed event within 1 minute 40 seconds by starting in the water swimming 20 yards surface dive (feet-first or head-first) to a depth of 7 to 12 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 hand exit the water without using a ladder or steps.
Certification: Participants who successfully complete this course receive an American Red Cross certificate for Lifeguarding (including deep water) with CPR/AED for Professional Rescuers and First Aid valid for 2 years.
Trainers: Marlys Cappaert, SwimTrek & Dena Marshall, WaterStrong
Equipment: Participants should wear comfortable clothing, and bring a notebook, swimwear and towels, water bottle, a light meal/snacks.
WaterStrong is 501c3 non-profit organization with the mission to end drowning and promote cleaner, safer waters, destroying barriers along the way. All proceeds from this training support WaterStrong family programs for low income and underserve families.