The Red Cross is offering lifeguarding certification courses in Farmington, providing training in water rescue, CPR, first aid, and emergency response skills. The program, which includes a required swim pre-test, is available to residents and non-residents aged 15 and older at the Farmington Swimming Pool.
Training and Certification Requirements
Lifeguarding training in Farmington involves a comprehensive curriculum taught by certified instructors. Participants must complete a Red Cross Lifeguarding Pre-Test to ensure they possess the fundamental skills necessary to succeed in the full course. This evaluation is essential for anyone seeking to gain the expertise required to maintain safety in and around water environments.
Mandatory Skills Assessment
To qualify for certification, candidates must be at least 15 years old by the final day of the course. Applicants must pass a pre-test conducted on the first day of class, attend every scheduled session, and successfully pass the final lifeguarding test. The curriculum covers critical emergency response skills, including water rescue techniques, CPR, and first aid.
Physical Proficiency Standards
The certification process requires candidates to pass a specific swim, tread, and swim event. This evaluation includes jumping into the water, fully submerging, and resurfacing before swimming 150 yards continuously using a front crawl, breaststroke, or a combination of the two. Goggles are permitted during this portion of the test.
Timed and Technical Challenges
Candidates must also demonstrate the ability to tread water for 2 minutes using only their legs. Following this, they must complete a 50-yard swim using a front crawl, breaststroke, or a combination of both. The assessment also includes a timed event where the participant swims 20 yards without goggles, submerges to a depth of 7-10 feet to retrieve a 10-pound object, and swims 20 yards back on their back while holding the object with both hands and keeping their face at or near the surface. Finally, participants must exit the water without the use of a ladder or steps.
Registration and Scheduling Details
Registration for the programs is structured by residency status. Residents can register for $150, while non-residents are charged a fee of $160. The training sessions are held at the Farmington Swimming Pool and are scheduled for Thursdays through Saturdays. The schedule includes a first-week session on Thursday from 3:30 to 5 p.m., with Friday sessions running from 3:30 to 8:30 p.m. and Saturday sessions held from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Facility and Contact Information
The Farmington Swimming Pool, located at the city's recreation facility, serves as the primary site for these certifications. For those interested in the programs, Sylvia Clark is listed as the contact person, reachable at 801-939-9295 or via email. The city also provides various other recreation services, including adaptive archery, baseball, basketball, fishing, flag football, martial arts, music, pickleball, soccer, softball, and tennis.
Community Safety Impact
The Red Cross certification program aims to build confidence in individuals through specialized instruction. By mastering these water safety skills, participants are prepared to take on a rewarding role in community water safety and emergency response.
