Lifeguarding

Lifeguard Review courses are for American Red Cross certified lifeguards whose certification is still valid or within 30 days of expiration. If over 30 days have passed since the certification expired, a full lifeguard course must be taken. Review classes are designed to help you update your skills and extend your certification for two more years.

Participants must complete the precourse skills session conducted on the first day of course to be eligible to participate. Each participant is allowed two attempts for each skill test:

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, 40 seconds.
   • Starting in the water, swim 20 yards. The face may be in or out of the water. Swim goggles are not allowed.
   • Surface dive, feet-first or head-first, to a depth of 7 to 10 feet to retrieve a 10-pound object.
   • Return to the surface and swim 20 yards 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 water.
   • Exit the water without using a ladder or steps.

Lifeguards who attend a review course are expected to have prior knowledge of all skills. Review courses are fast-paced with little time to focus on re-teaching. It is recommended that participants review the lifeguard and the chapter review questions prior the course in order to pass the course successfully. Click here to access the online manual.

Students may also review by completing the full lifeguard course blended learning portion (approx. 7 hours). Click here to get started.

To pass the course, students must:

• Successfully complete the precourse skills session.
• Attend and participate in all course skill sessions and complete class activities.
• Demonstrate competency in all skills and scenarios.
• Pass the final written exam with a minimum grade of 80%

Upon successful completion of the course, students will be certified for two years by the American Red Cross in Lifeguarding/First Aid/CPR/AED.

Lifeguard instructor courses train instructor candidates to teach American Red Cross Lifeguard, CPR/AED for Professional Rescuers, Shallow Water Lifeguarding, Waterfront Skills, Waterpark Skills, and more courses and/or modules. Lifeguard instructor candidates are expected to have instructor-level competency in all skills and scenarios and the maturity needed to train future lifeguards. The course consists of a 2.5 hour online portion and a minimum 22 hours of in-person instruction.

Once registered through the JCC for the American Red Cross Lifeguarding Instructor course, candidates will receive an email about two weeks before the class date with information about the course and how to access the online material.

In order to participate in the Lifeguarding Instructor course, candidates must:

• Be at least 17 years old on or before the last day of the instructor course.
• Possess a current basic-level certification in American Red Cross Lifeguarding/First Aid/CPR/AED
• Successfully complete the Online Introduction to the Lifeguarding Instructor course prior to the first in-person session
• Successfully complete the Precourse Skills Session on the first day of class which includes:
  • Precourse Swimming Skills Evaluation
  • Prerequisite Rescue Skill Scenarios Evaluation

To successfully complete the Lifeguarding Instructor course, the instructor candidate must:

• Successfully complete the online Introduction to the American Red Cross Lifeguarding Instructor course.
• Successfully complete the Precourse Skills Session.
• Attend and actively participate in all course sessions.
• Successfully complete class activities, including the required practice-teaching assignments.
• Demonstrate instructor-level skill competency in all skills and scenarios.
• Pass the final written exam with a minimum grade of 80 percent

Upon successful completion of the instructor course, each candidate with be certified by the American Red Cross as a Lifeguard Instructor.

This in-person Lifeguarding Instructor/Instructor Trainer review course is the required course for all Lifeguarding Instructors and Instructor Trainers to re-certify. During this course, Lifeguarding Instructors and Instructor Trainers will participate in an in-water practice and polish skills session with their peers and a classroom-based review of Red Cross administrative policies and procedures. Lifeguarding Instructors and ITs may also choose to attend a brief “test out” session following this course to gain a basic-level Lifeguarding certification.

In order to participate in the Lifeguarding Instructor/Instructor Trainer Review course you must currently possess an American Red Cross Lifeguarding Instructor or Lifeguarding Instructor Trainer certification, and:

• Lifeguarding Instructors:
  • Complete all course updates prior to the update deadline.
  • Teach or co-teach at least one Lifeguarding or Shallow Water Lifeguarding course of record during the 2-year certification period.
• Lifeguarding Instructor Trainers:
  • Complete all course updates prior to the update deadline.
  • Teach at least one Lifeguarding Instructor course of record or at least two Lifeguarding Instructor/Instructor Trainer Review courses of record during the 2-year certification period.

Upon successful completion of the review course, participants will be re-certified by the American Red Cross as a Lifeguarding Instructor or Lifeguarding Instructor Trainer for two years.

Please see the below guidelines regarding cancellations and refunds of all lifeguarding, lifeguarding review, and lifeguarding instructor courses:

• From date of registration up to free cancel date (10 business days before first class date): Free refund of course fee, or free transfer to any available course.
• From free cancel date (10 business days before first class date) to registration deadline (5 business days before first class date): Refund of course fee minus $20 cancel fee, or free transfer to any available course.
• From class registration deadline (five business days before first class date) to first class date: No refund. Or, free transfer to any available course.
• Online coursework not completed by first in-person session of class: No refund. Or, you may transfer to any available course and pay a $25 transfer fee.
• Failure to complete precourse skills session at beginning of course: No refund. Or, you may transfer to any available course and pay a $25 transfer fee.
• Failure to attend course: No refund and no transfer. If you did not attend due to medical or other reason, must contact to provide waiver.

Interested in taking a lifeguarding, lifeguarding review, or lifeguarding instructor course but our class dates don’t work for you? We can offer private training classes at the J to fit your schedule. Most courses need a minimum of four participants in order for the class to be run successfully. Pricing dependent on dates, participant count, and more.

Please contact Sam Neckar at sneckar@jccdallas.org or 214-239-7198 to inquire.

Interested in practicing to pass the lifeguard precourse skills session? We offer training conducted by our American Red Cross Lifeguard Instructors to help prepare to pass the precourse skills test. Participants will get time in the water at the J and coaching from the lifeguarding instructor on proper techniques. Sessions are booked for an hour but may be billed for a half-hour if the session concludes early.

Member: $40/hour
Non-member: $50/hour

Please contact Sam Neckar at sneckar@jccdallas.org or 214-239-7198 to schedule a session.