What kind of swimming will i have to do to be a lifeguard?

Question

I can swim really well,i just want to know what kinds of swimming i will have to do and how do you do them so i can make sure i'm doing to right thing

Answer 1

The swimming that is required is not to hard except my group did have to hold a 10 lbs weight in our hands for a while while treading water in the deep end. You also have to be able to pick up a 20 lbs weight off the bottom of the pool and bring it to the surface and to the side. You have to learn CPR  also and a few other things that are helpful. There is a written test, a swim/rescue test, and a CPR test. You have to pass all of them to get your certification. The most swimming I really saw being done was you need to be able to swim a 500 which takes a while lol. Good luck if you go for it I'm a lifeguard and i love my job. (pay isn't bad either)

Answer 2

When I trained to be a lifeguard we didn't have to swim a "special" way. We did have to swim 50 laps without stopping, dive down 14 ft. and retrieve a brick, tread water for 20 minutes and rescue a 200lb man off the bottom of the deep end.

There was more involved than that, but that will at least give you an idea.

Answer 3

It all depends on how you want to get certified. When I got certified toward the end of 06, Red Cross required us to be able to swim 500 meters in a combination of breast stroke and front crawl. Then we had to swim 20 meters, pick up a weight off the bottom of the pool, and swim back with the weight on our chests in a specified amount of time.

When I crossed over to YMCA, I think it was still 500 meters, but it was a combination of breast stroke, front crawl, and a modified backstroke without using hands.

Answer 4

You have to be a strong swimmer to be a life guard. The Red Cross has a swim training program that is taught at rec centers and YMCAs all over.  They train from beginner to certified life guard.  You should also try out for a swim team.  That experience will strengthen your swimming and the coaches will help your strokes improve too.