Minimum Requirements

• Many different certification programs provide lifeguard training, including the American Red Cross, the U.S. Lifesaving Association and the YMCA. For Red Cross certification, the trainee must be 15 years old, in good physical condition and a strong swimmer. For YMCA lifeguard training, the minimum age is 16. For USLA training, which provides standards for open water certification, applicants must be at least 18. Most training programs require students to qualify with a swimming test.
  
  

Skills

• The skills taught in nearly all lifeguard training include, survival training, rescues from shore, special swimming strokes for approaching and carrying struggling swimmers, in-water rescues and specific holds and carries for transporting victims, CPR and first aid. Lifeguards are also often trained in techniques to scan waterfronts and maintain attention through long shifts.
  
  

Waterfront

• Waterfront lifeguard training includes additional scanning techniques for a larger space, training in recognizing wind, water and other conditions that affect surveillance at a waterfront, and the use of personal watercraft, such as kayaks.
  
  

Water Parks

• Water park lifeguard certification includes training in traditional pool techniques and additional training in moving water, extremely shallow water and the unique hazards of water play areas, such as slides and spray grounds.
  
  

Surf

• Training for lifeguarding on an ocean is the most demanding of all. Surf lifeguards must not only be adept at all the lifeguarding skills required of poolside and freshwater waterfront guarding, but they must also know how to handle the surf, deal with riptides and recognize unique threats, such as sharks and jellyfish that can affect ocean beaches and waterfronts. To deal with the demands of swimming in surf, the tests for surf-trained guards include more rigorous swimming requirements. Surf guards also receive additional training in using different watercraft for their rescues since they are more likely to need to use such craft.