YWCA Minneapolis has everything you need to be an American Red Cross Certified Lifeguard, including full training courses for new lifeguards, as well as review courses and challenge courses for continuing lifeguards needing recertification. These courses are for anyone over the age of 15 and interested in becoming a professional lifeguard.

Lifeguard Class Registration Policies

• Participants younger than 18 will be required to provide proof of age. (You must be at least 15 years old.)
• Participants in all lifeguard courses are required to bring a swimsuit and towel every day of class.

28 hours

This course provides the essential training necessary to work as a professional lifeguard. Upon successful completion of the course, participants will receive certifications in Lifeguard Training, CPR for the Professional Rescuer, and First Aid.

Participants must attend all portions of the course to be eligible for certification.

All participants must complete the pre-course swim test, which includes a 300-yard continuous swim and simulated water rescue requiring a surface dive to a depth of 7-10 feet. The purpose of the pre-course test is to ensure that the participant demonstrates comfort in the water, along with enough speed, strength and endurance to perform a combination of basic skills that are required and built upon throughout the course.

No refunds or transfers will provided for lifeguard class participants who do not complete the class or do not meet the class prerequisites. Refunds will not be provided to those who cancel their class registration less than 5 business days prior to the class starting.

This course provides 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 (EMS) personnel take over. (Valid for 2 years) (28.5 hours)

Prerequisites:

• Minimum age of 15 by course completion. ID required.
• Swimming Skills: 300 yard continuous swim demonstrating breath control and rhythmic breathing. Candidates may use front crawl or breaststroke.
• Tread water for 2 minutes using only the legs.
• Timed swim & surface dive: Swim 20 yards (no goggles), surface dive to a depth of 7-10 feet to a retrieve a 10-pound object, return to the surface and swim 20 yards on the back to starting point. Exit the water.
• Failure of the pre-test disqualifies you from taking the course.
  

Certification Requirements:                                                                                          

• Attend and participate in all class sessions.
• Demonstrate competency in all required skills and activities.
• Demonstrate competency in all required final rescue skill scenarios.
• Pass both the final written exams with minimum of 80 percent.

This course gives individuals with a current lifeguarding/first aid/CPR/AED certificate the opportunity to review Lifeguard Training content within a formal course setting. The review course format optimizes a participant’s ability to successfully complete the knowledge and skills evaluations needed for renewal. (12 hours) (Renews for 2 years)

This course teaches students to respond to breathing and cardiac emergencies in adults, children and infants, use an AED on an adult or child victim of cardiac arrest and use personal protective equipment to stop blood-borne pathogens and other diseases from spreading. This course is one step above the Adult, Child, and Infant CPR/AED course. (Valid for 2 years) (6.5 hours)

The purpose of this course is to help participants identify and eliminate potentially hazardous conditions in their environment, recognize emergencies and make appropriate decisions for first aid care. It teaches skills that participants need to know in order to provide immediate care of a suddenly ill or injured person until more advanced medical care arrives to take over. (Valid for 2 years) (4 hours)

An abbreviated CPR/AED for Professional Rescuers that briefly reviews course information and allows practice of skills before testing. To be eligible to participate in a review course, participants must have successfully completed prior training. This training can be verified with an American Red Cross Certificate or equivalent. Students must hold current certification to participate in this review course. (4.5 hours) (Renews for 2 years)

An abbreviated First Aid that briefly reviews course information and allows practice of skills before testing. To be eligible to participate in a review course, participants must have successfully completed prior training. This training can be verified with an American Red Cross Certificate or equivalent. Students must hold current certification to participate in this review course. (2 hours) (Renews for 2 years)