STANDING GUARD
& READY TO ACT

   • Complete 36 course hours (27½ hours in the classroom and in the water as well as 8½ hours of online learning*)
   • Pass a series of exams with a score of 80% or better and as well as achieve a pass rating on all in-water skills
   • Instructor to Student Ratio: 1:10
   • Lifeguard Training (16 and older) and Junior Lifeguard Training** (ages 11-15)

   * When you register for the course, please provide a valid, legible e-mail address so that a link to the online portion of the training can be sent to you. This portion of the course must be completed before the first day of class.
   ** If you are interested in Junior Lifeguard Training, which prepares you to be a support/secondary responder and is excellent for anyone earning a merit badge, please contact Waco Family YMCA Aquatics Director Evan Bates by calling him at 254 776 6612 ext 211 or e-mailing him at evan.bates@ymcactx.org.

 

On the first day of class, you must successfully demonstrate the ability to:
   • Tread water for 2 minutes using only your legs, followed by immediately swimming 100 yards (four lengths of the pool) using front crawl
   • Swim 250 yards using various strokes
   • Perform a feet-first surface dive and swim underwater at a depth of at least 8 feet for a distance of at least 15 feet
   • Dive into the water head first, swim front crawl with your head up, perform a head-first surface dive and retrieve an object from the bottom of the pool, tread water while holding the object out of the water for 1 minute, return the object to the bottom of the pool, exit the water and perform 100 CPR compressions on a manikin

If you are unable to demonstrate the ability to perform any of the above items, you will be exited from the course. A refund (minus $40 to cover the cost of the online portion) will be issued. Please allow a minimum of 2 weeks for a refund to be processed.

 

To successfully complete the Y's Lifeguard Training, you must:
    • Attend all classes and participate at a level of 100%
    • Score 80% or higher on these written tests: YMCA Lifeguard Training as well as CPR Pro/AED, First Aid and Emergency Oxygen Administration through the American Safety and Health Institute (ASHI)
    • Successfully perform all practical skills
    • Demonstrate the ability to prevent accidents, recognize emergencies, activate the emergency action plan, perform rescues, provide emergency care and complete incident reports
    • Show the strength and maturity to be a lifeguard by working through classroom and in-water scenarios that test your ability to prevent accidents and respond to emergencies

YMCA Lifeguard as well as ASHI First Aid and Emergency Oxygen Administration certifications are valid for 2 years. ASHI CPR Pro/AED certification is good for 1 year. The back of your certification card includes a web address giving you access to course manuals as long as your certification is valid.

To renew your certification, simply retake the YMCA Lifeguard Training course. Contact Waco Family YMCA Aquatics Director Evan Bates (254 776 6612 ext 211 or evan.bates@ymcactx.org) to renew your ASHI CPR Pro/AED certification.

 

The Y’s Lifeguard Training prepares you to prevent, anticipate and effectively respond to aquatic emergencies. You'll learn:
   • How to handle various lifeguarding situations (such as open water dangers) and environments (pools, lakes, rivers, surf, and water parks)
   • How to make safe and effective rescues and deliver first aid and spinal-injury management in aquatic environments
   • Scanning and guarding techniques, incident prevention, victim recognition and decision-making skills
   • Legal responsibilities
   • Pool maintenance basics
   • Tips for securing employment as lifeguard

 

On the first day of class, please bring a picture ID and your online learning completion certificates* (10 total).

On the second day of class, please return the minor participants form, which will be given to you on the first day of class and must be signed by a parent/legal guardian if you are younger than 18.

On each day of class, please bring a swim suit and towel. Swim goggles are optional.

*When you register for the course, please provide a valid, legible e-mail address so that a link to the online portion of the training can be sent to you. This potion
of the course must be completed before the first day of class.