Lifeguard Training in Lancaster County

If you visit beaches, lakes, or swimming pools in Lancaster County, you’ll often see lifeguards on duty to ensure everyone’s safety. A lifeguard’s essential job is to help prevent accidents and respond quickly in emergencies and that requires specialized training. A lifeguard course in Lancaster County prepares individuals to protect swimmers at beaches, lakes, waterparks, and swimming pools.

Lancaster County offers plenty of opportunities to enjoy the water, especially during warmer months when aquatic activity increases. With more people swimming and spending time at public and private facilities, the demand for trained lifeguards rises making lifeguarding a valuable and in-demand skill, particularly in peak seasons.

Lifeguards Training in Lancaster County

Lifeguards serve at beaches, waterparks, lakes, and swimming pools throughout Lancaster County to protect swimmers and maintain safe aquatic environments. With a variety of aquatic venues and community facilities, there are strong opportunities for individuals who want to pursue lifeguarding as a rewarding role.

A lifeguard course in Lancaster County is the first step toward building your path in aquatics. Once certified through a respected organization such as the American Lifeguard Association (ALA), candidates become well-positioned to seek employment at pools, aquatic centers, and waterfront facilities.

ALA lifeguard programs are designed to help candidates develop job-ready skills and professional confidence. With over 30 years of experience, ALA has trained lifeguards who serve communities worldwide. Earning an ALA credential signals a commitment to safety, preparedness, and professionalism.

About the American Lifeguard Association

The American Lifeguard Association is supported by Global Lifeguards and the Swimming Pool and Spa Foundation, both 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations dedicated to reducing drownings and improving aquatic safety.

ALA’s mission is to make swimming pools, beaches, and waterways safer. To achieve this, ALA works directly with employers nationwide to train lifeguards and promote strong safety standards.

ALA has been referenced by public health and safety organizations, including:

• The CDC Healthy Swimming Program
• The U.S. Department of Labor
• The U.S. General Services Administration (GSA)

Since the early 1990s, ALA has aligned its programs with Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) requirements. Training also reflects current ECC science and findings from the United States Lifeguard Training Standards Coalition Report. In addition, ALA encourages employers to meet Model Aquatic Health Code (MAHC) recommendations for pre-service evaluations and in-service training.

Requirements for Lifeguard Training in Lancaster County

To enroll in the American Lifeguard Association’s lifeguard course in Lancaster County, candidates must meet minimum age requirements generally recognized nationwide:

• 15 years or older to work at a swimming pool, waterpark, or lake

• 16 years or older to work at a beach or waterfront facility

Candidates must also demonstrate the following prerequisite skills to complete the program:

Swim Requirements

Swim 300 yards continuously, using these strokes:

• 100 yards of front crawl with rhythmic breathing and a stabilizing, propulsive kick

• 100 yards of breaststroke using a pull, breath, kick, and glide sequence

• 100 yards of either front crawl or breaststroke (or a combination of both)

Timed Skill Event

Complete a timed event:

• Start in the water, swim 20 yards using front crawl or breaststroke

• Surface dive 7–10 feet to retrieve a 10-pound object

• Return to the surface and swim 20 yards back to the starting point with the object

• Exit the water without using steps or a ladder

• All within 1 minute and 40 seconds

Upon successful completion, each participant receives an American Lifeguard Certificate in Lifeguarding, CPR/AED for the Professional Rescuer, and First Aid, valid for two years.

Lifeguarding in Lancaster County: Long-Term Career Options

Although many people view lifeguarding as a seasonal job for students, it can grow into a long-term profession. Year-round opportunities may be available at indoor pools and aquatic centers in Lancaster County.

With additional training and experience, lifeguards can pursue advancement into roles such as:

• Water Safety Instructor

• Swim Coach

• Aquatic Supervisor or Manager

These roles often offer higher pay, leadership responsibilities, and a path to a career focused on public safety and community wellness.

Learning Skills with Lifeguard Training in Lancaster County

During the ALA lifeguard course in Lancaster County, participants develop a comprehensive set of skills across rescue techniques, CPR/AED, and First Aid.

Rescue Skills

• Slide-In Entry

• Stride and Compact Jumps

• Rescue Approach (front crawl or breaststroke)

• Simple Assist

• Extension Assist from the Deck

• Reaching Assist with Equipment and Throwing Assist

• Swimming Extension Rescue

• Active and Passive Drowning Victim Rear Rescue

• Two-Person Removal from the Water Using a Backboard

• Passive Submerged Victim (Shallow Water)

• Multiple-Victim Rescue

• Feet-First Surface Dive

• Submerged Victim (Deep Water)

• Front and Rear Head-Hold Escape

Caring for Head, Neck, or Back Injury Skills

• Manual In-Line Stabilization on land (lying down, sitting, or standing)

• Using a Backboard for a Standing Victim on Land

• Head Splint Technique (face-up and face-down, shallow water at or near surface)

• Head and Chin Support (face-up and face-down, shallow water at or near surface)

• Head Splint Technique (face-up and face-down, deep water at or near surface)

• Head and Chin Support (face-up and face-down, deep water at or near surface)

• In-Line Stabilization for a Submerged Victim (face-up, face-down, or on one side in deep water)

• Using a Backboard in Shallow and Deep Water

CPR/AED for the Professional Rescuer Skills

• Removing Gloves

• Initial Assessment

• Rescue Breathing (adult, child, infant)

• Using a Bag-Valve-Mask Resuscitator (two rescuers)

• Conscious Choking (adult, child, infant)

• Unconscious Choking (adult, child, infant)

• CPR (adult, child, infant)

• Two-Rescuer CPR (adult, child, infant)

• Using an AED (adult and child)

First Aid Skills

• Secondary Assessment

• Controlling External Bleeding

• Applying a Sling and Binder

• Applying an Anatomic Splint

• Applying a Soft Splint

Final Skill Scenarios

• Final Skill Scenario 1: Active Drowning Victim

• Final Skill Scenario 2: Submerged Passive Drowning Victim

• Final Skill Scenario 3: Head, Neck, or Back Injury

The Final Wave

The primary role of lifeguard training is to prepare individuals to keep swimmers safe. Lifeguards often monitor their area from a raised chair, patrol open-water zones, and use rescue equipment as needed to respond quickly and effectively.

The American Lifeguard Association is recognized as a leading aquatic health and safety training provider. With more than 30 years of experience, ALA delivers training guided by a strict code of ethics and a commitment to excellence.

If you’re searching for “lifeguard training near me” in Lancaster County, an ALA lifeguard course in Lancaster County can be the right step toward certification and job readiness. For more information on ALA lifeguard training and certification programs, please contact us.