Smith YMCA Holding Red Cross Lifeguard Class

The Smith Family YMCA is offering an American Red Cross lifeguarding class this month at its Joliet location, 1350 S. Briggs Street. Designed for residents looking to be certified lifeguards, class participants will learn professional lifeguarding responsibilities, including first aid, CPR for the professional rescuer and AED. Classes will be held from 2:30-8:30 p.m. November 19-21. Certification testing will be held on Friday, November 24.

Participants must be at least 15 years of age by the end of the class, and attendance at every class is mandatory. Participants must be able to swim 300 yards continuously as well as tread water for two minutes using their legs only. Participants must also be able to complete a timed 40-yard swim, which includes: swimming out 20 yards, surface diving down to the deep end of the pool and retrieving a 10-pound brick, returning to the surface and swimming 20 yards back to the starting point with both hands holding the brick, and then exiting the pool without the use of a ladder or steps in under one minute and 40 seconds. If swimmers cannot meet these requirements, they will not be allowed to take the course.

Cost is $250 for Full Members of the Greater Joliet Area YMCA, $300 for Program Members and $350 for Non-Members. Certification cards and CPR masks are included in the fee. Lifeguarding manuals can be downloaded for free by visiting www.redcross.org. All participants must complete the pre-requisite swim test before the first day of class.

For more details or to register, please contact Aquatics Director Danielle Krohn at (815) 726-3939 or via e-mail at dkrohn@jolietymca.org.