Fact Sheet: Shallow Water Attendant PDF Print E-mail
Purpose
 
To teach participants the knowledge and skills needed to prevent and respond to aquatic emergencies in shallow water up to 4 feet deep. The course content and activities prepare participants to recognize and respond quickly and effectively to emergencies and prevent drownings and injuries in shallow water. This course is not intended for the shallow part of an area or attraction that also has deeper water.
 
Prerequisites
  • Minimum age of 15.
  • Swim 50 yards continuously.
  • Starting in the water, swim 20 yards using front crawl or breaststroke, submerge to a depth of 4 feet, retrieve a 10-pound object, return to the surface, walk 20 yards back to the starting point with the object and exit the water without using a ladder or steps, within 50 seconds.
 
Learning Objectives
  • Understand the value of behaving in a professional manner.
  • Learn how to identify behaviors of a swimmer, distressed swimmer and an active or passive drowning victim.
  • Understand the components of an emergency action plan and how to activate it.
  • Understand the general procedures for an emergency occurring in the water up to 4 feet deep or on land.
  • Demonstrate how to perform equipment-based rescues.
  • Learn how to provide first aid and how to care for breathing and cardiac emergencies.
  • Learn how to recognize and care for possible head, neck or back injuries.
 
Length
30 hours, 30 minutes (including the precourse session)

Certification Requirements
  • Attend all class sessions.
  • Demonstrate competency in all required skills and activities.
  • Demonstrate competency in the three final skill scenarios.
  • Correctly answer at least 80 percent of the questions in the three sections of the final written exam.