Gaithersburg Lifeguard Training Courses
Our outdoor swimming pools are closed for the season and it is now too cold to go to the beach. However, it is not time to set aside thoughts of swimming. One of the best things one can do in a family is to make sure that every member knows how to swim. For those that have the ability, lifeguard training is available in our community.
Encourage the young people in your family to take advantage of the lifeguard training courses that are sponsored by the City of Gaithersburg.
This is the notice from the City of Gaithersburg:
Registration now being accepted.
UPDATE: Even though the Aquatic Center is currently closed, we are still accepting registrations for Lifeguard Training Courses as we are renting pool space at different facilities.
Lifeguard Class Schedule and Registration Form - December & January Classes (PDF format)
NOTE: This form is provided in PDF format and can be viewed with the Adobe Acrobat Reader. This format will enable you to view the document as it appears in print. If you do not already have the Adobe Acrobat Reader installed follow the link above to Adobe's free download area.
RecXpress Online Registration Page
American Red Cross Lifeguard Training classes are offered throughout the year. Living in, or working for the City of Gaithersburg is NOT required to take a course. Those who pass the class and are hired to work for the City of Gaithersburg will receive a partial refund of the course cost after working a full season.
In the Lifeguard Training course, you will learn about the duties and responsibilities of a lifeguard and how to carry them out in a professional manner. You will also learn a number of lifeguarding techniques, such as surveillance; how to use rescue equipment for a distressed swimmer, active drowning victim, and passive drowning victim; and how to perform CPR and First Aid, and care for someone who may have a head, neck, or back injury.
Successful course completion requires 100% participation in classroom and skill sessions, as well as successful performance in skill and knowledge evaluations. Due to the nature of the skills in this course, you will be participating in strenuous activities, such as performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) on the floor and removing someone from the water. If you have a medical condition or disability or if you have any questions about your ability to participate fully in this course, discuss with your physician and call 301-258-6445 to inform the instructor before you start the course.
To enroll in the Lifeguard Training course, you must be at least 15 years of age before the last scheduled class session. There will also be a pre-course session, in which you will be required to pass a swimming skills test. The skills you will perform are as follows:
- Swim 300 yards continuously, using these strokes in the following order:
- 100 yards (4 lengths) of front crawl using rhythmic breathing and a stabilizing propellant kick.
- 100 yards (4 lengths) of breaststroke
- 100 yards (4 lengths) of either front crawl or breaststroke. These 100 yards may be a mixture of both strokes.
- Swim 20 yards using front crawl or breaststroke, surface dive to a depth of 7-10 feet, retrieve a 10-pound brick, return to the surface, and swim 20 yards back to the starting point with the object under one minute and forty seconds.
- Tread water for 2 minutes without support and without stopping. When treading, only the legs can be used and the head must stay above the surface of the water.
Upon successful completion of the course, you will receive an American Red Cross Lifeguard Training, First Aid and CPR/AED for the Professional Rescuer certificate. These certificates are valid for 2 years.
Please call 301-258-6445 or email aquatics@gaithersburgmd.gov if there are any other questions.
Chrysanthemum, Brookside Gardens IMG_1741
Photograph by Roy Kelley
Roy and Dolores Kelley Photographs
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