The YMCA offers a full American Red Cross Lifeguard Training course that includes CPR for the Professional Rescuer, first aid, administering emergency oxygen, equipment-based rescues for aquatic environments, accident prevention and decision-making skills.
Participants must be 15 years old by the end of the class. Online prework, attendance, full participation, successful completion of written tests and performance of all water skills are required.
If you're interested in working as a lifeguard for the YMCA, training may be available at no cost to you. Contact our branch aquatics directors for additional information.
Skill Requirements
- Jump into the water from the side, totally submerge, recover to the surface and swim 150 yards
- After swimming 150 yards, maintain position at the surface of the water without support for 2 minutes by treading (while treading, you can only use your legs)
- After maintaining position at the surface of the water for 2 minutes, swim 50 more yards.
- Complete a timed event within 1 minute, 40 seconds:
-Starting in the water, swim 20 yards. The face can be in or out of the water. Swim goggles are not permitted.
-Surface dive, feet-first or head-first, to a depth of 7 to 10 feet to retrieve a 10-pound object
-Surface and swim 20 yards on the back with both hands holding the object and keeping the face at or near the surface so they are able to breath. Candidates should not swim the distance under water.
-Exit the water without using a ladder or steps
*All trainings will include required e-learnings. These will be distributed a week before the in-person sessions and need to be completed before those begin.
Sessions
A.E. Finley YMCA
December 6 - 8
Friday 3 - 8 p.m.
Saturday 10 a.m. - 7 p.m.
Sunday 11 a.m. - 7 p.m.
December 27 - 29
Friday 3 - 8 p.m.
Saturday 10 a.m. - 7 p.m.
Sunday 11 a.m. - 7 p.m.
January 18 - 20
Saturday 10 a.m. - 7 p.m.
Sunday 11 a.m. - 7 p.m
Monday 10 a.m. - 7 p.m.
February 7 - 9
Friday 3 - 8 p.m.
Saturday 10 a.m. - 7 p.m.
Sunday 11 a.m. - 7 p.m.
Chapel Hill - Carrboro YMCA
November 1 - 3
Friday 1 - 8 p.m.
Saturday 9 a.m. - 7 p.m.
Sunday 9 a.m. - 7 p.m.
Additional classes TBA. Contact our branch staff listed below if you are interested in future training and/or recertification opportunities.
Aquatics Directors
A.E. Finley YMCA, Meagan Smith
Alexander Family YMCA, Brian Cole
Chapel Hill - Carrboro YMCA and YMCA at Meadowmont, Matti Svoboda
Downtown Durham and Hope Valley Farms YMCAs, Stanley Bass
East Triangle YMCA, David Huie
Ingram Family YMCA, Amanda Isham
Kerr Family YMCA, Max Turner
Kraft Family YMCA, Madison Temple
Northwest Cary YMCA, Shane Tillett
Poole Family YMCA, Jaime Jewett
Taylor Family YMCA, Eric Bjorkquist
Southeast Raleigh YMCA, Waleska Brown