New Britain – Berlin YMCA

Red Cross Certification Courses

Lifeguard Certification Course

Provides entry-level participants with the knowledge and skills to prevent, recognize and respond to aquatic emergencies and to provide care for breathing and cardiac emergencies, injuries and sudden illnesses until EMS personnel take over. All participants must pass the pre-test to participate in the course. 

This is a blended learning lifeguard class which includes 6 hours of online learning and 21.5 hours of in person training.

Our Red Cross lifeguard training classes have been enhanced to provide a more comprehensive and effective learning experience. To accommodate these updates, our classes are now scheduled over multiple days, allowing for a more relaxed pace and in-depth exploration of the material. This expanded format enables our expert instructors to: deliver detailed instruction and demonstration, provide ample time for hands-on practice and reinforcement, and ensure you feel confident and prepared for real-world scenarios. By spreading the training over multiple days, we’ve created a more engaging and supportive learning environment that sets you up for success as a lifeguard.

Prerequisites

1. Swim-Tread-Swim Sequence

You must complete the following sequence: Jump into the water from the side, totally submerge, recover to the surface and swim 150 yards. After swimming 150 yards, maintain position at the surface of the water without support for 2 minutes by treading. After maintaining position at the surface of the water for 2 minutes, swim 50 more yards. While swimming, you must swim continuously, keeping your face in the water and demonstrating good breath control. You may use the front crawl, breaststroke or a combination of both. Swimming on the back or side is not permitted. Swim goggles are allowed.

2. Timed Event

Goggles are not allowed for the timed event. You have 1 minute, 40 seconds to complete the following sequence. Starting in the water, swim 20 yards. Your face may be in or out of the water. Surface dive (feet-first or head-first) to a depth of 7 to 10 feet to retrieve a 10-pound object. Return to the surface and swim 20 yards on your back to return to the starting point, holding the object at the surface with both hands and keeping your face at or near the surface. Swimming the distance underwater is not permitted. Exit the water without using a ladder or the steps.

Participants who successfully complete this lifeguarding course receive an American Red Cross certificate for Lifeguarding/First Aid/CPR/AED, valid for two years.

Lifeguard Recertification

CPR & First Aid Certification or Recertification Course

For CPR and First Aid classes for yourself or your workplace, please contact Ashley Jordan at 860.229.3787.

 

General Refund Policy: If any class or program is canceled by the YMCA, a full refund of paid program fees, plus membership fees if taken out solely to participate in the canceled class, will be made by check from the YMCA. Other membership, program, joiner’s and drafting fee are nonrefundable. Any program or fitness classes not held for holidays or due to inclement weather are not refundable nor transferable. Red Cross classes are nonrefundable. The only exception is if the Meriden-New Britain-Berlin YMCA cancels the class.