If you are a beach lover then lifeguard training and lifeguard jobs are for you. It is also important to note that if you enjoy swimming and snorkeling that you will enjoy this job immensely. Lifeguard training provides people with the required skills that they need in order to prevent drownings and incidents of drowning while at sea. There are several different areas where lifeguards are required and all these require different levels of training.
Lifeguard training near me starts with swimming classes where the students learn how to swim and canes to maintain personal safety in the event of an emergency. The first emergency medical step that the lifeguard must learn is how to use a life vest, how to quickly access the ocean hospital and how to treat wounds on the beach. Lifeguard training teaches students skills that can be useful in case of an emergency medical situation on the beach. Lifeguards should wear approved life jackets and the proper equipment to avoid any life threatening situations.
Lifeguard training classes usually last for two hours but some programs may be as long as four hours. The curriculum of the program may include lectures given by experts and real-life experiences of the trainees. Instructors conduct seminars to teach participants skills that include teaching participants how to identify dangerous situations that may occur in the ocean. Lifeguard training classes may also include water safety instructor, rescue breathing techniques and basic swimming procedures. Lifeguard training requires the use of advanced life saving techniques like CPR, which is a cardiopulmonary resuscitation method to help stop drowning.
Lifeguard training also involves teaching students about the basics of CPR and first aid technique. The basic CPR skills include mouth-to-mouth resuscitation and mouth-to-lip resuscitation. Lifeguard training also involves the use of advanced life saving techniques such as the chest-to-mouth breathing method, AED (automated external defibrillator) and floatation. Lifeguards must be competent in emergency protocol and basic water safety courses to be certified. Lifeguards are professionally trained, experienced, licensed and monitored by private companies, government and resort pools and resorts.
A certified lifeguard training class includes lessons on CPR, first aid, swimming endurance, swimming skills and the basics of swimming psychology. Lifeguard instructors can specialize in a particular water safety instructor program. An example is a water safety instructor program that focuses on pediatric lifeguards. The program includes lessons on infant CPR, infant airway breathing, child and adult CPR, drowning prevention, understanding the signs and symptoms of drowning, responding to emergencies, swimming pool safety and pediatric lifeguard training.
Most lifeguard training schools provide the coursework and study materials through DVD’s and books, online courses and on-site trainings. Some also provide the necessary aquatic training to participate in a lifeguard class. Most courses last for just 12 weeks, which allows students to schedule the appropriate courses around their busy lives. Students can usually choose from regular weekly classes, online courses or a combination of both. Students can complete the coursework and study materials on their own time. Some courses allow for a maximum of eight hours per week of training.