New Britain – Berlin YMCA

Red Cross Certification Courses

Babysitting Training Course with Pediatric First Aid, CPR and AED

 

Blended Learning Format

Our Blended Learning Babysitters Training combines the best of online learning with hands-on, in-person training. This innovative approach allows you to learn at your own pace online, while also gaining practical experience and skills in a classroom setting. With a certified instructor who will share the latest information, offer tips and can answer all of your questions so that you're ready to care for children safely and confidently.

The course is 6 hours of online and 6 hours of in person training. The online portion (accessed via mobile desktop or tablet) must be completed prior to attending the instructor-led skills session. Upon successful completion a valid two-year digital certificate for Babysitter Training and Pediatric First Aid/CPR/AED is issued.

Online Class

The online course is broken down into 6 modules:

  • First aid, CPR, and AED
  • Choking
  • Sudden illnesses
  • Life threatening bleeding
  • Injuries and environmental emergencies

In-Person Class

The In-person course session includes hands-on activities, videos and discussions to develop essential, real-life readiness babysitting skills as well as:

  • Basic care for infants and children
  • Child behavior management
  • Age-appropriate activities
  • Feeding, diapering, and picking up children
  • Gain knowledge and skills to start and manage a babysitting business
  • As well as performing the Pediatric CPR and First Aid skills you learned online.

Requirements:

  • Ages 11-16
  • Parent/guardian sign-up and permission
  • Complete online coursework prior to in-person class session
  • Attend all in-person class sessions and participate in hands-on activities and discussions
  • A unique email and phone number per participant for The American Red Cross Blended Learning Portal

Fee: Full, Program or Non-Member: $150

Certification: Upon successful completion of the class

  • 2-year certification in Babysitting Training and Pediatric CPR, and First Aid
  • Access to refresher materials

Contact Us:

To register or learn more, please call 203-235-6386.

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 (excluding meal and rest breaks). 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
  • 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.

About the online course

This course follows a blended learning model, which combines online coursework with in-person sessions. You will receive an email 10 days prior to your in person training from the American Red Cross with instructions for accessing the online course content. To get started, log in to the Red Cross Learning Center and from your home page, click on the class. Please plan to complete all of the assigned online course modules at least 2 days prior to the corresponding in-person session. The online course content (16 modules) is designed to be completed in approximately 6 hours, with each module taking between 15 and 30 minutes to complete.

About the in person course

The total instructional time for the Lifeguarding course in-person sessions is 21.5 hours (excluding meal and rest breaks). 

Prerequisites

Prerequisite 1: Jump in, submerge, resurface and swim 150 yards continuously, tread water for 2 minutes, and then swim 50 more yards. While swimming, you must keep your face in the water and demonstrate good breath control. You may swim using the front crawl, breaststroke or a combination of both. Swimming on the back or side is not permitted. Swim goggles are allowed. When treading, you must use only your legs.

Prerequisite 2: Complete a timed event within 1 minute, 40 seconds. Starting in the water, swim 20 yards. Your face may be in or out of the water. Swim goggles are not allowed. Surface dive (head-first or feet-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.

To successfully complete the course and receive certification, you must:

  • Attend the entire course and participate in all class sessions.
  • Actively participate in all course activities, including assuming various roles during skill practices, skill drills, activities and scenarios.
  • Demonstrate proficiency in all skills.
  • Successfully pass the final written exam with a minimum grade of 80 percent.
  • Pass three final skill assessments.

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

What you need for class

During the first class session, you will be required to provide proof of age and identity. Acceptable forms of identification include a driver’s license, state identification card, passport, or birth certificate. If a birth certificate is used to provide proof of age, an additional form of identification with a photo is also needed to provide proof of identity. 

In general, you will need the following for each class session:

  • A swimsuit that allows for good range of motion and that will stay secure and keep you covered during physical activity.
  • A towel.
  • Comfortable clothing for classroom activities and practicing skills such as CPR.
  • Your Lifeguarding Manual (in either print or digital format), a hip pack or fanny pack, resuscitation mask (Included in your registration fee) and whistle.
  • For your comfort, you may want to bring an extra swimsuit and a change of dry clothes, in addition to an extra layer (such as a sweatshirt and sweatpants)
  • Must bring a bagged lunch

 Registration Information:

January 2026 

  • Friday, January 30th 5:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.
  • Saturday, January 31st 8:00 a.m. - 6:30 p.m.
  • Sunday, February 1st 8:00 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.

February 2026 

  • Friday, February 13th 5:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.
  • Saturday, February 14th 8:00 a.m. - 6:30 p.m.
  • Sunday, February 15th 8:00 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.

Fee: $390

Class Location: New Britain YMCA

Questions: Contact Brye at (203) 440-1870.

Participants who successfully complete the Lifeguarding course receive an American Red Cross certificate for Lifeguarding/First Aid/CPR/AED, valid for two years. American Red Cross classes are nonrefundable. The only exception is if the Meriden-New Britain-Berlin YMCA cancels the class.

Lifeguard Recertification

To enroll in the Lifeguarding Recertification course, you must have a current certification or a certification expired by no more than 30 days for American Red Cross Lifeguarding (Including Deep Water) with CPR/AED for Professional Rescuers and First Aid. To participate in the recertification course, you must be able to pass a prerequisite swimming skills evaluation, which includes two parts and takes place during the first in-person session.

Prerequisites

Prerequisite 1: Jump in, submerge, resurface and swim 150 yards continuously, tread water for 2 minutes, and then swim 50 more yards. While swimming, you must keep your face in the water and demonstrate good breath control. You may swim using the front crawl, breaststroke or a combination of both. Swimming on the back or side is not permitted. Swim goggles are allowed. When treading, you must use only your legs.

Prerequisite 2: Complete a timed event within 1 minute, 40 seconds. Starting in the water, swim 20 yards. Your face may be in or out of the water. Swim goggles are not allowed. Surface dive (head-first or feet-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.

This course follows a blended learning model, which combines online coursework (16 modules) with in-person sessions. You will receive an email 10 day prior to the in-person training from the American Red Cross with instructions for accessing the online course content. To get started, log in to the Red Cross Learning Center and from your home page, click on the class. Please plan to complete all of the assigned online course modules at least 2 days prior to the corresponding in-person session. The online course uses adaptive learning technology to create an independent learning plan for you. Each module begins with a pre-assessment. You can completely test out of a module, test out of specific learning objectives within the module, or be required to complete the entire module.

What you need for class

During the first in-person session, you will be required to provide proof of age and identity. Acceptable forms of identification include a driver’s license, state identification card, passport, or birth certificate. If a birth certificate is used to provide proof of age, an additional form of identification with a photo is also needed to provide proof of identity.

A printed copy of your current certification or a certification expired by no more than 30 days for American Red Cross Lifeguarding (Including Deep Water) with CPR/AED for Professional Rescuers and First Aid.  

In general, you will need the following for each class session:

  • A swimsuit that allows for good range of motion and that will stay secure and keep you covered during physical activity.
  • A towel.
  • Comfortable clothing for classroom activities and practicing skills such as CPR.
  • Your Lifeguarding Manual (in either print or digital format), a hip pack or fanny pack, resuscitation mask (Included in your registration fee) and whistle.
  • For your comfort, you may want to bring an extra swimsuit and a change of dry clothes, in addition to an extra layer (such as a sweatshirt and sweatpants)
  • Must bring a bagged lunch

To successfully complete the course and receive certification, you must:

  • Attend the entire course and participate in all class sessions.
  • Actively participate in all course activities, including assuming various roles during skill practices, skill
  • drills, activities and scenarios.
  • Demonstrate proficiency in all skills.
  • Successfully pass the final written exam with a minimum grade of 80 percent.
  • Pass three final skill assessments.

 Registration Information:

  • Fee: $200
  • Day/Time: Sundays 8:30 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.
  • Location: Meriden YMCA, 110 West Main Street, Meriden, CT 06451
  • Contact: Brye at (203) 440-1870.
  • American Red Cross classes are nonrefundable. The only exception is if the Meriden-New Britain-Berlin YMCA
    cancels the class.

CPR & First Aid Certification or Recertification Course

The Red Cross Adult and Pediatric First Aid/CPR/AED blended learning course equips students to recognize and care for a variety of first aid breathing and cardiac emergencies involving adults, children and infants. The class is a blended learning format with 2.5 hours of online and 2.5 hours of in person training. The online portion (accessed via mobile desktop or tablet) must be completed prior to attending the instructor-led skills session. Upon successful completion a valid two year digital certificate for Adult and Pediatric First Aid/CPR/AED is issued. 

  • Prerequisites: Online work must be completed prior to in-person training.
  • Location: Meriden YMCA, 110 West Main Street, Meriden, CT 06451
  • Fee: $75
  • Contact: Brye at (203) 440-1870
  • American Red Cross classes are nonrefundable. The only exception is if the Meriden-New Britain-Berlin YMCA cancels the class.

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.