Get Lifeguard Certification in France with ALA

If you usually go to the beach or swimming pool, you would have notice that there is always one or several lifeguards to ensure everyone’s safety. Lifeguards’ essential job is to help avoid accidents, for which it is mandatory to have specific training. Lifeguard training in France serves this purpose: training people as lifeguards for the safety of the swimmers at beaches, lakes, water parks, and swimming pools.

France is a country of beaches and swimming pools. Few things are more satisfying than swimming. If we take into account the beaches of our country, we are talking about thousands of kilometers of coastline, stretching along the Atlantic Ocean, the Mediterranean Sea, and the English Channel. While if we talk about pools, the number is also very high, as France has one of the largest numbers of public and private pools in Europe. This is where you need a good number of lifeguards, who are the ones that watch over the safety of swimmers in these places. And France, with over 5,500 public swimming pools and more than 1.5 million private pools, together with its extensive coastline, certainly requires a large number of lifeguards. This profession is in high demand, especially during the summer months when beaches and pools are filled with tourists and locals alike.

Lifeguard training in France

Lifeguards are present at the beaches, water parks, lakes, and swimming pools to ensure the safety of the swimmers. There are plenty of aquatic fun places all over the France, and it is no different in the county of France. 

Lifeguard training in France is the first step towards making your way to a great career opportunity in the water world. There are many opportunities for being a lifeguard once you have received your lifeguard certification from a reputed organization such as the American Lifeguard Association (ALA).

ALA training centers in France offer different types of lifeguard training courses and certifications. Lifeguard training in France is the most popular in the summertime. Still, it can give you benefits throughout the year as there are a number of indoor pools and water sports activities throughout the whole year.

A lifeguard with certification from ALA can help you get a job to serve at a beach or a swimming pool with the organization’s reputation. ALA has been training lifeguards for more than 30 years and has trained lifeguards serving around the world.

Lifeguard training provided by the American Lifeguard Association covers an extensive list of skills you need to learn. 

The American Lifeguard Association (ALA) has the support of Global Lifeguards and the Swimming Pool and Spa Foundation, which are 501(c)(3) nonprofit associations that oversee beaches and swimming pools. The primary purpose of ALA is to reduce drownings and to help keep our swimming pools, beaches, and waterways safer. ALA works directly with employers nationwide to help train lifeguard professionals.

The American Lifeguard Association has been listed over the years on the CDC Healthy Swimming website. In addition, the U.S. Department of Labor and the U.S. General Service Administration (GSA) has determined that the American Lifeguard Association offers lifeguard certification programs similar to those provided by the American Red Cross. Also, since the early 1990s, we have helped ensure that all our training programs meet Occupational Safety and Health Administration requirements for employees.

ALA program’s skills reflect ECC science and findings from the France Lifeguard Training Standards Coalition Report. ALA programs also require that employers meet the new Model Aquatic Health Code (MAHC) requirement to conduct pre-service evaluations and in-service training with all staff members.

Before talking about the skills, we will talk about the requirements to become a candidate for enrollment in the ALA lifeguard training class. 

Requirements for lifeguard training in France

To enroll in the Lifeguarding training course, France Labor Laws require that you must be 18 years or older to work at a swimming pool, waterpark, or lake and 18 years or older to work at beaches.

You must be able to demonstrate the following skills to pass the entire Lifeguarding course successfully:

Swim 300 yards continuously, using these strokes in the following order:

• 100 yards of front crawl using rhythmic breathing and a stabilizing, propellant kick. Rhythmic breathing can be performed either by breathing to the side or to the front.
• 100 yards of breaststroke using a pull, breath, kick and glide sequence.
• 100 yards of either the front crawl or breaststroke.

The 100 yards may be a combination of front crawl and breaststroke. Starting in the water, swim 20 yards using front crawl or breaststroke, surface dive 7- 10 feet, retrieve a 10-pound object, return to the surface, swim 20 yards back to the starting point with the object, and exit the water without using a ladder or steps, within 1 minute, 40 seconds.

Upon completing the lifeguard course, each participant will receive an American Lifeguard Certificate indicating Lifeguard, CPR/AED for the Professional Rescuer, and First Aid, valid for two years.

Lifeguard training in France for long-term career

Being a lifeguard is often seen as just a summer job for young students, as it is a seasonal job in many parts of the country, but it can become a full-time career.

One great way to benefit from your lifeguard training in France is to get employment at a facility that needs lifeguards year-round. With additional training, a lifeguard can also become a water safety instructor or coach, paying considerably more than a lifeguard.

Learning skills with lifeguard training in France

Lifeguarding Course Participants at the American Lifeguard Association will learn:

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 for a Head, Neck, or Back Injury on Land- Lying Down, Sitting, or Standing
• Using a Backboard for a Standing Victim on Land
• Head Splint Technique-Face-Up Victim, Shallow Water at or Near Surface
• Head Splint Technique-Face-Dow Victim, Shallow Water at or Near Surface
• Head and Chin Support-Face-Up Victim, Shallow Water at or Near Surface
• Head and Chin Support-Face-Down Victim, Shallow Water at or Near Surface
• Head Splint Technique-Face-Up Victim, Deep Water at or Near Surface
• Head Splint Technique-Face-Down Victim, Deep Water at or Near Surface
• Head and Chin Support-Face-Up Victim, 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, and Infant
• Using a Bag-Valve-Mask Resuscitator-Two Rescuers
• Conscious Choking-Adult, Child, and Infant
• Unconscious Choking-Adult, Child, and Infant
• CPR-Adult, Child, and Infant
• Two-Rescuer CPR-Adult, Child, and 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 to be Demonstrated

• Final Skill Scenario 1-Active Drowning Victim
• Final Skill Scenario 2-Submerged Passive Drowning Victim
• Final Skill Scenario 3-Head, Neck, or Back Injury.

Famous France Beaches Where Lifeguards Are Essential

France is one of the most popular destinations in the world for beach lovers. From the glamorous French Riviera beaches to the rugged coastlines of Brittany and Normandy, the country offers diverse landscapes and opportunities for swimming, surfing, and relaxation. These world-class beaches also highlight the importance of lifeguard training in France, ensuring safety for both locals and international visitors.

1. Corsica

• Palombaggia Beach – A paradise with fine white sand and crystal-clear waters, perfect for families.

• Santa Giulia Beach – Known for shallow turquoise waters surrounded by pine trees.

• Rondinara Beach – A stunning shell-shaped cove, often ranked among the best beaches in France.

2. French Riviera (Côte d’Azur)

• Pampelonne Beach (Saint-Tropez) – Famous for its vibrant lifestyle and celebrity visitors.

• Paloma Beach (Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat) – Offers breathtaking scenery and crystal waters.

• Juan-les-Pins Beach – A lively Riviera destination, ideal for sunbathing and water sports.

3. Normandy

• Étretat Beach – A dramatic pebble beach overlooked by iconic chalk cliffs.

• Deauville Beach – A classic French resort beach, popular with families and vacationers.

4. Brittany (Bretagne)

• Pink Granite Coast (Côte de Granit Rose) – Unique pink rock formations along clear, turquoise waters.

• Plage d’En Vau – A hidden cove accessible through hiking trails, perfect for adventure seekers.

5. Southwestern France

• Plage de la Côte des Basques (Biarritz) – A world-renowned surfing spot on the Atlantic coast.

• La Conche des Baleines (Île de Ré) – A wide sandy beach with dunes and a lighthouse backdrop.

The Final Wave

The primary role of lifeguard training is to make sure that everyone in his charge is safe. To improve the view of the area of responsibility, a lifeguard often sits in a high chair overlooking the pool area or beach. In larger open water areas, lifeguards frequently patrol the area. Binoculars are standard tools for most first responders.

The American Lifeguard Association is considered one of the top aquatic health and safety training providers in the France. It has been training lifeguards for more than 30 years now. Training adheres to a code of ethics and is committed to delivering quality health and safety training worldwide.

For lifeguard training in France, if you are searching for the words “lifeguard training near me,” the American Lifeguard Association is just the right place for lifeguard training in France. For more information on ALA lifeguard training and certification programs, please do not hesitate to contact us.