Has anyone taken the Ellis and Associates lifeguard training program?

Question

I applied for a job as a lifeguard.

i got the job =)

but i am required to take the ellis and associates course to work at the waterpark.

I am a strong swimmer, but at times i look sloppy. very sloppy.... sometimes.

so can anyone tell me about what goes on in this course, and what some of the requirements are.

Thank you!

Answer 1

I can't say I know anything about this course specifically, but here are some general requirements for most lifeguard classes:

Swim 15 yards with a 10 lbs brick. Swim 500 yards several different ways. Be able to rescue someone from about 10 ft deep. General CPR stuff (easy) and different types of rescues. Just pay attention and you'll be fine.

Answer 2

yes i workd as a lifegaurd for six flages feista texas and had to take the ellis program basicly i thought that the corse stank i was a competive swmmer and had at the time red cross WSI certafactaion the ellis class cant compare to the red cross one withc is much more throu we had pepole pass our ellis class that could not swim 100 meaters without a flotation device.  the ellis class neads ot go away but it wont becuse ellis is an insurnce company and anyone who wants to use the insurnce has to have ther gaurds take the ellis class wereas the red corss is a no proffit oragnasion and dos not cove your park/pool if someone gets hurt.

Answer 3

I have been an ellis guard for 3 going on 4 years

main requirements (pre-requisites): swim a 200m, tread water without using your hands for 2 min, retrieve a brick from the bottom of the pool (the brick is really not as difficult as it sounds)

We also teach individual CPR and group CPR. You will learn different techniques to rescue guests from the water, as well as how to rapidly extricate an unconscious guest. They also teach you how to scan your water as a lifeguard, whistle codes, how to enter the water, etc.

If you don't know anything about ellis, it is a very good program. They don't just train you and walk away. We audit our guards (put dolls in the water, have someone pretend to drown/go unconscious, or visually check that they are scanning their water) to make sure they are doing their jobs. Also, Ellis sends professional auditors to each facility periodically to run audits. They also require 4 hrs of inservice training a month. I don't mean this to scare you, though...just to let you know that Ellis is a very good program and actually checks up on guards.

(btw if you are a strong swimmer, I'm thinking your swimming is probably fine. You probably just feel like it's sloppy..either way, what really matters is that you get across the pool fine)

What water park are you working at?