Lifeguarding & Certifications

Benefits of Lifeguarding at the Eau Claire YMCA

Lifeguards have and use many skills that are valued and have benefit to employers in business and industry.

Public Relation/Customer Service: Lifeguards work with the public on a daily basis. Lifeguards must respond to inquiries and complaints in a positive and professional manner. Lifeguards need to possess excellent communications skills to effectively deal with patrons.

Crisis Management: Lifeguards are trained to take control of crisis situations and prioritize actions to respond appropriat4ely and effectively during emergencies. Good decision making skills are a must.

Conflict Resolution: Experienced lifeguards learn to mediate disputes and to find creative solutions to problems. Lifeguards are experienced problem solvers.

Leadership: Lifeguards use leadership skills in their day-to-day dealings with patrons. Lifeguards also act as instructors and evaluators. Head lifeguards assume responsibility for supervising staff, leadership training, scheduling, ect.

Teamwork: Lifeguards work as part of a cohesive team in order to effectively protect patrons. Lifeguards need to be self-driven and detail oriented. They are able to concentrate for long periods of time and have the ability to think in the abstract. Lifeguards are highly trained individuals who have much to offer.

Lifeguard Training
Candidates for lifeguarding at the Eau Claire YMCA need to be a minimum age of 15 by end of course. Course candidates will become lifeguards by gaining the necessary skills needed to recognize, prevent and respond quickly to aquatic emergencies. Prerequisites are: swim 300 yards combination of front crawl and breaststroke (non-stop swimming), perform a surface dive 9 feet to retrieve a 10 pound brick and swim back holding the brick on top of the water (timed). Participants must have a passing score of 80% or better on all exams, pass the final skill scenarios in order to receive certifications. Candidates must be 16 to work as a lifeguard in Wisconsin. The course fee includes your books and certifications for CPR-Professional, AED, First Aid and Lifeguard Training. Must attend every class, NO EXCEPTIONS!
Fee: Member: $175
Non Member: $200

Lifeguard Challenge
Sign up on an interest list by contacting Guy Rex at 715-836-8460 ext. 119 or guy@eauclaireymca.org

First Aid Basics
The First Aid Basics course is designed to provide participants with the knowledge and skills for initial care until advanced medical help arrives. Participants will learn how to recognize and care for sudden illnesses and injuries. The First Aid certification is valid for three years. Certification received upon completion of the course objectives and a passing score of 80 correct on the final exam.
Fee: Member: $30
Non Member: $45

CPR/AED for the Professional Rescuer - Full Course
This comprehensive course instructs participants in the role of the professional rescuer in the EMS system, understand how the emergency action principles are used when providing emergency care for a person, recognition and care for breathing and cardiac emergencies, and the use of an automated external defibrillator for victims of sudden cardiac arrest. If you have never taken a CPR class you should take this course.

Certifications are renewed upon completion of the course objectives and a passing score of 80% on the final exam. Certification is valid for one year.

If you would like one of the certification books to keep you will need to purchase a book at the American Red Cross. If you would like a book to use during the course, one will be provided. Fee: Member: $60 Non Member: $75

CPR/AED for the Professional Rescuer – Review
Participants will review the skills needed to appropriately respond and perform cardio pulmonary resuscitation and rescue breathing for adults, children and infants and the guidelines and use of an automated external defibrillator (AED).

CPR has changed! If you need to renew your CPR/AED certification you will need to take the review course so you can be updated to the new material.

Certifications are renewed upon completion of the course objectives and a passing score of 80% on the final exam. Certification is valid for one year.

If you would like one of the certification books to keep you will need to purchase a book at the American Red Cross. If you would like a book to use during the course, one will be provided.

Fee: Member: $45 Non Member: $60