Lifeguard in TEXAS?

Question

I just moved to Texas and I want to start looking into being a lifeguard at a pool or something.

What do I have to do to get all the certificates?

Is it just first aid and cpr?

I'm 17.

I am a fantastic swimmer, i grew up next to the beach my whole life.

I am in shape.

But i don't think i like little kids haha

Anyone have answers? tips? anything!

Answer 1

Basically you will need to get certified by one of seven nationally recognized organizations (Texas might have a slightly different list of organizations).

Here is what I know about them:

United States Lifesaving Association (USLA)- this is for open water/ surf lifeguarding (on a beach)

Starfish Aquatics Institute (Starguard program)- I don't know a whole lot about them. As I understand it they are a private risk management/ pool operations company that also certifies lifeguards.

YMCA- As far as I know this program is only used at YMCAs and some YMCAs use ARC or Ellis instead

Boy Scouts of America (BSA)- I don't know a whole lot about this program either.

National Aquatic Safety Company (NASCO)- I'm not very familiar with NASCO.

American Red Cross (ARC)-probably the most common certification for pools. Form ARC you will usually need Lifeguarding, First Aid, CPR and AED for the Proffesional Rescuer to be hired as a lifeguard.

Jeff Ellis and Associates (EA, E&A, Ellis)- probably the most common certification for water parks and secound most common for pools (they claim to certify guards for over 90% of privately owned water parks in the US). Ellis and Associates integrates lifeguarding, first aid, CPR and AED training all into one course.

There is a huge debate over Ellis vs. Red Cross, which if you want to learn more about it I would guess Google could find you plenty of material on the debate.

Some pools may have you aply for a job and then train you in the program they have selected.

Physical requirements vary from certification to certification and pool to pool. Requirements usually involve: a swim of some length sometimes with specified strokes and a surface dive to retrieve an object (sometimes a specified type of surface dive). Some companies will also include a treading water requirement like treading water for two minuets without hands.

Good Luck!

Answer 2

my daughter is on the swim team at her school, and she is a lifeguard too, she actually took her classes thru the city in which we live.  Last year she worked at a fitness center, but this year she is working for the city and she also gives swimming lessons in the morning/afternoon.  

1st step contact your parks and recreation dept. in your city and they can get you started.