Fact Sheet: Waterpark Lifeguarding PDF Print E-mail
Purpose
 
To teach participants the knowledge and skills needed to prevent and respond to aquatic emergencies both in a pool and at a waterpark environment. The course content and activities prepare participants to recognize and respond quickly and effectively to emergencies and prevent drownings and injuries.
 
Prerequisites
  • Minimum age of 15.
  • Swim 300 yards continuously.
  • Starting in the water, swim 20 yards using front crawl or breaststroke, surface dive 7–10 feet, retrieve a 10-pound object, return to the surface, swim 20 yards back to the starting point with the object and exit the water without using a ladder or steps, within 1 minute, 40 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 conditions that affect surveillance at a waterpark.
  • Understand and be able to explain safety rules and considerations at waterparks.
  • Understand the components of an emergency action plan and how to activate it.
  • Understand the general procedures for an emergency occurring in the water or on land.
  • Demonstrate how to perform equipment-based rescues.
  • Demonstrate how to perform specific water rescue skills for a waterpark facility.
  • 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
33 hours, 15 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.