ALWAYS HERE FOR OUR COMMUNITY
Whether you’re new to the community or simply want to pursue a new hobby, the Greater Joliet Area YMCA brings together people who love to learn. Whether you want to become a certified lifeguard or learn CPR and First Aid, the Y offers classes that will give you the opportunity to learn right alongside others from your community who share your interests.
American Red Cross Lifeguarding
You’re in good hands when you learn lifeguarding at the Y. We have been an industry leader in aquatic safety for more than 100 years. The purpose of the American Red Cross Lifeguarding course is to provide entry-level lifeguard participants with the knowledge and skills to prevent, recognize and respond to aquatics emergencies and to provide care for breathing and cardiac emergencies and injuries.
Prerequisites:
During testing participants will be required to complete a swim-tread-swim sequence, goggles allowed, as follows:
- Jump in water feet first, submerge, and resurface
- Swim 150 yards in front crawl (freestyle), breaststroke, or a combination of both and be able to demonstrate breath control/rhythmic breathing
- Tread water for two minutes maintaining position at the surface without the use of arms/hands and only using legs
- Swim an additional 50 yards
Participants will then complete a timed swim event, goggles not permitted, as follows:
- Swim 20 yards from starting point to deep end of pool
- Submerge, then retrieve a 10-pound brick from a depth of nine feet
- Resurface, swim on back in return to starting point holding the brick with both hands and maintaining face near or at the surface
- Exit the water without using ladder or steps and place the brick on the edge of the pool deck
- Complete the event in one minute and 40 seconds.
At the end of this course, participants will test for Red Cross Lifeguard, First Aid and CPR/AED certifications. Additional courses are also available for Red Cross Waterpark Lifeguard Certification, Red Cross Lifeguard Recertification, and Red Cross Lifeguarding Instructor.
To learn more about lifeguarding classes at the Y, please contact your local branch.
C.W. Avery Family YMCA
Rhiannon Earls
[email protected]
(815) 267-8600, ext. 247
Morris Hospital YMCA
Coni Schram
[email protected]
(815) 513-8080, ext. 520
Village of Shorewood YMCA
Emily Fleming
[email protected]
(815) 753-5900, ext. 620
