This course provides lifeguard candidates with the knowledge and skills to prevent and respond to aquatic emergencies, provide professional-level care for breathing and cardiac emergencies, injuries and sudden illnesses until emergency medical services (EMS) personnel take over. 

To enter the course, participants must meet the minimum age requirements and pass a prerequisite swim test (details listed below).

Prerequisites:

• Minimum age: 15 years old
• Prerequisite 1: Complete a swim-tread-swim sequence without stopping to rest:
  • Jump into the water and totally submerge, resurface then swim 150 yards using the front crawl, breaststroke or a combination of both. (Swimming on the back or side is not permitted. Swim goggles are allowed).
  • Maintain position at the surface of the water for 2 minutes by treading water using only the legs.
  • Swim 50 yards using the front crawl, breaststroke or a combination of both.
• Prerequisite 2: 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).
  • Submerge to a depth of 7 - 10 feet to retrieve a 10-pound object.
  • Return to the surface and swim 20 yards on the back to return to the starting point, holding the object at the surface with both hands and keeping the face out at or near the surface.
  • Exit the water without using a ladder or steps.

Class Length:

• Approximately 7 hours online.
• Approximately 24 hours in-person.
• Approximately 4 hours allotted for optional additional certifications.

Fees:

• $250

To register:

• A Hamilton Area YMCA membership is not required for participation in these programs.
• Registration may be completed in-person or over the phone.
• Courses must have a minimum of 6 participants to run.
• Participants must attend all class dates listed.
• Pre-work must be completed by date listed to participate.
• Participants must show official proof of age to the instructor on the first day of the course.

To participate in the Lifeguarding Recertification class you must have a current American Red Cross Lifeguarding certification, and certification expired by no more than 30 days. During the course, individuals will have the opportunity to review and practice their skills. Participants must pass the final written test and the three (3) final skill assessments which include:

• Assessment 1 - Timed Response • Participants must complete a passive submerged rescue, extricate with the assistance of an assisting rescuer, and rapid assessment (including the delivery of 2 initial ventilations by either rescuer) within 1 minute, 30 seconds, and then provide 3 minutes of single-rescuer CPR.
• Assessment 2 - Rotation and Scanning • Participants must rotate into the lifeguard station, conduct surveillance from the station for 1 minute, and rotate out of the station.
• Assessment 3 - Final Team Response Testing Scenario • Participants must perform a passive submerged rescue, extrication and rapid assessment, followed by multiple-rescuer CPR and use of AED and BVM resuscitator.

   

  Certifications are valid up to 2 years.

  Fees: $120

The American Red Cross CPR/First Aid/AED program helps participants recognize and respond appropriately to cardiac, breathing, and first aid emergencies. The courses in this program teach the knowledge and skills needed to give immediate care to an injured or ill person and to decide whether advanced medical care is needed.

Blended Learning: You will notice the word "Blended". These courses are a combination of First Aid, CPR, and AED. Once registered, you will receive online pre-work to complete prior to the class. You must complete this work and bring the completion certificate to your class.

Prerequisites: None

Length:

• Approximately 3 hours online.
• Approximately 3 hours in-person.

Fees:

• Course fee: $85

This course provides current YMCA Swim Lessons instructors the opportunity to recertify their certification and support understanding and implementation of the swim lessons program. In addition, instructors will gain knowledge, skills and abilities in teaching students with disabilities and diversity of abilities.

Instructors can expect to gain an understanding of the following: the community need and how the Y is positioned to meet that need, the impact instructors have on program success when teaching in a way that supports a diversity of abilties, the range of diversity in abilities that an instructor may teach and tips for facilitating swim lessons, the tools and resources available to help deliver the YMCA Swim Lesson program, and how to individualize lessons to meet participants’ goals.

This course awards the YMCA Swim Lesson Instructor Certification. After successful completion of this course, instructors will be able to identify components of the YMCA Swim Lessons continuum, demonstrate the behaviors of an effective YMCA Swim Lessons Instructor, maintain an inclusive environment of learning while keeping order in a positive and safe environment, employ swim teaching techniques that break down the critical features of a swimmer’s skill progression at any age and stage and demonstrate the swim instructor’s role in the safety process and during an emergency. Candidates must be able to tread water for two minutes and demonstrate Stage 5 proficiency in at least four of the following six strokes by swimming 25 yards of each: Front Crawl, Breaststroke, Sidestroke, Butterfly, Elementary Backstroke, and Backstroke.