Lifeguard/WSI Training

Lifeguard Training

Are you 15 or older and looking for a great summer job or a challenging career? American Red Cross Lifeguarding is the best place to start! Lifeguarding puts you in an exciting position, working as part of a team to help people safely enjoy the water.

Lifeguarding will help you develop skills and experience that will be valued by colleges and future employers. It's a great way to demonstrate what you can offer. Colleges and employers look for applicants who can deal effectively with people, who have a take charge attitude and who are willing to work to develop new skills. Through classroom learning and hands-on practice, you'll learn:

• Surveillance skills to help you recognize and prevent injuries
• Rescue skills - in the water and on land
• First aid training and professional rescuer CPR - to help you prepare for any emergency
• Professional lifeguard responsibilities like interacting with the public and addressing uncooperative patrons

Course length approximately 36 hours.

Water Safety Instructor (WSI) Training

The American Red Cross Water Safety Instructor Course provides instructor candidates the training needed to teach courses in the American Red Cross Swimming and Water Safety Program by developing their understanding of how to use the course materials, how to conduct training sessions and how to evaluate participants' progress. Concepts and features of the Water Safety Instructor course include:

• New minimum age prerequisite of 16 years of age to enter the course.
• Shortened course time of approximately 30 hours (including pre-course session).
• Clearly described and applied teaching strategies, including:
  • Explain, demonstrate and practice;
  • Task setting;
  • Station teaching; and
  • Guided discovery.
• New instructor manual provides tools and information needed to plan and conduct courses. A CD-Rom will be packaged with the instructor's manual with information and tools for individuals managing a swim program, as well as conducting and administering learn-to-swim courses.
• New video segments that bring to life the realities of what to expect from their students throughout the levels for the brand new instructor.
• Video segments that focus on effective class management and effective teaching strategies in the aquatic setting.
• Various video segments show typical examples of basic skills and common progressions including breath control, swimming on the front and swimming on the back.
• Video segments also show some typical performance of the strokes as they progress through the levels. This video depiction helps instructor candidates visualize the description of the strokes in the written skills performance criteria charts that they will then be able to use when evaluating their students' performance.
• Supported by video, the instructor candidates work to develop their ability to observe and assess, often referred to as having a photographic eye, which will help them to identify weaknesses and determine how to intervene to move their students to the next level.
• Learning activities, games and drills are built in throughout the course; some are led by the instructor trainer while others are led by instructor candidates. This helps instructor candidates improve their strokes and understand how to integrate activities, games and drills effectively into their teaching.
• Multiple opportunities for instructor candidates to practice their teaching skills through formal practice teaching assignments as well as leading mini-lessons.

Whether you want to splash around with kids and teach them to swim, help children or adults refine their strokes or teach diving safety techniques, you can do it as an American Red Cross Water Safety Instructor. Qualified instructors can also help prepare swim coaches to prevent and respond to emergency situations.

The City of Mountain View is proud to announce the release of the Aquatic Leader in Training Program. Created for youth age 13-15 who have are no longer enrolled in swim lessons but are not yet old enough to experience their dream of working at one of the City’s aquatic facilities, this program teaches participants what can be expected at the pool day-to-day. With the City’s long established tradition of teaching quality swim lessons to the youth of the community, we are now extending that tradition of excellence to our teenage population with a program that will prepare them to share their love of the water with the next generation.

As an Aquatic Leader in Training (ALIT) you will receive enhanced training to assist City swim instructors in teaching the Learn-to-Swim program at each of the aquatic facilities. In addition to the training received by previous Junior Lifeguard participants, this new program offers training in American Red Cross (ARC) Water Safety Assistant, ARC Guard Start through which participants are introduced to patron surveillance and safety skills, customer service and job preparation skills. Throughout the summer, ALITs will actively participate in day-to-day activities and special events at the pools and have the opportunity to job shadow City of Mountain View aquatic staff!
 
ALIT’s will be selected after application and interview in process in May. Selected ALIT’s must be in attendance for all training dates. Training dates include the Aquatic Leader in Training class in June. Applications may be picked up at the City of Mountain View Community Center, located at 201 S. Rengstorff Avenue after March 1st of each year.
 
Aquatic Leaders in Training will work throughout the summer, beginning the last week of June. Shifts will be scheduled according to participant availability and program needs. At the end of the summer, ALIT’s will receive a letter verifying their volunteer service to the aquatics program, and participate in an award ceremony. The City of Mountain View Junior Lifeguard program has already seen many of its participants go on to receive the necessary training to become Lifeguards, Water Safety Instructors, Head Lifeguards, and even Pool Supervisors with the City and other aquatic facilities. Don’t miss out on this exciting opportunity to make this opportunity an item on your resume.

Will you be one of our Aquatic Leaders in Training?