Brantley County Lifeguard Training: ALA Certification

When visiting a beach or swimming pool, you will almost always see lifeguards on duty, carefully watching over swimmers to ensure their safety. The primary responsibility of a lifeguard is accident prevention and emergency response, which makes professional training essential. Lifeguard training in Brantley County is designed to prepare individuals with the skills and knowledge required to protect swimmers at beaches, lakes, water parks, and swimming pools.

Brantley County offers plenty of places where people enjoy swimming and spending time around the water. Whether it’s community swimming pools, recreational aquatic facilities, or nearby waterfront areas, swimming remains one of the most enjoyable and refreshing activities for families and visitors. With multiple locations where people gather to swim, the need for trained lifeguards becomes essential. Lifeguards are responsible for monitoring swimmers, preventing incidents, and responding quickly during emergencies. Because water activity increases significantly during warmer months, the demand for lifeguards in Brantley County is especially high in the summer season.

Lifeguard Training in Brantley County

Lifeguards play a critical role at beaches, lakes, water parks, and swimming pools by maintaining a safe environment for swimmers. Across the Brantley County, aquatic facilities are abundant, and Brantley County is no exception. The county offers multiple aquatic locations where trained lifeguards are required to oversee swimmer safety.

Lifeguard training in Brantley County serves as the foundation for a rewarding career in the aquatic field. After earning a lifeguard certification from a well-recognized organization such as the American Lifeguard Association (ALA), individuals gain access to a wide range of employment opportunities.

ALA training centers offer various lifeguard training courses and certifications. While lifeguard training in Brantley County is especially popular during the summer months, opportunities remain available year-round due to indoor pools and ongoing aquatic activities.

A lifeguard certified by the American Lifeguard Association benefits from the organization’s strong reputation, which helps candidates secure employment at swimming pools, beaches, and aquatic facilities. With more than 30 years of experience, ALA has trained lifeguards who serve communities around the world.

About the American Lifeguard Association

Lifeguard training provided by the American Lifeguard Association includes a comprehensive range of essential safety and rescue skills.

The American Lifeguard Association (ALA) is supported by Global Lifeguards and the Swimming Pool and Spa Foundation—both 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations dedicated to aquatic safety. ALA’s mission is to reduce drowning incidents and enhance safety at swimming pools, beaches, and waterways nationwide.

ALA works closely with employers across the Brantley County to train professional lifeguards. Over the years, the organization has been featured on the CDC Healthy Swimming website. Additionally, the U.S. Department of Labor and the U.S. General Service Administration (GSA) have determined that ALA’s lifeguard certification programs are comparable to those offered by the American Red Cross.

Since the early 1990s, ALA has ensured that its training programs meet Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) standards. ALA’s programs are based on ECC science and align with findings from the Brantley County Lifeguard Training Standards Coalition Report. Employers participating in ALA programs are also required to comply with the Model Aquatic Health Code (MAHC) for pre-service and in-service staff training.

Before discussing the skills taught in the program, it is important to understand the eligibility requirements for enrolling in ALA lifeguard training.

Requirements for Lifeguard Training in Brantley County

To enroll in a lifeguard training course, U.S. labor laws require candidates to meet minimum age requirements:

• At least 15 years old to work at a swimming pool, water park, or lake

• At least 16 years old to work at beaches or waterfront facilities

Candidates must also successfully demonstrate the following prerequisite swimming skills:

• Swim 300 yards continuously using the following strokes:

  • 100 yards of front crawl with rhythmic breathing and a steady, propellant 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)

• Complete a timed skill test:

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

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

  • Return to the surface, swim 20 yards back while holding the object

  • Exit the water without using steps or a ladder

  • Complete the entire task within 1 minute and 40 seconds

After successfully completing the course, participants receive an American Lifeguard Certificate in Lifeguarding, CPR/AED for the Professional Rescuer, and First Aid. The certification is valid for two years.

Lifeguard Training in Brantley County for Long-Term Career Growth

Many people view lifeguarding as a temporary summer job, often suitable for students. However, lifeguard training in Brantley County can lead to long-term career opportunities within the aquatic industry.

Year-round employment is available at facilities such as indoor swimming pools and aquatic centers. With additional certifications and experience, lifeguards can advance into higher-paying roles, including water safety instructor, swim coach, or aquatic supervisor.

Skills Learned in Lifeguard Training in Brantley County

Participants enrolled in the American Lifeguard Association lifeguarding course will gain extensive hands-on training in the following areas:

Rescue Skills

• Slide-In Entry

• Stride and Compact Jumps

• Rescue Approach (Front Crawl or Breaststroke)

• Simple Assist

• Extension Assist from the Deck

• Reaching and Throwing Assists

• Swimming Extension Rescue

• Active and Passive Drowning Victim Rescues

• Two-Person Water Removal Using a Backboard

• Passive Submerged Victim (Shallow Water)

• Multiple-Victim Rescue

• Feet-First Surface Dive

• Submerged Victim Rescue (Deep Water)

• Front and Rear Head-Hold Escapes

Head, Neck, and Back Injury Care

• Manual In-Line Stabilization on Land (Lying, Sitting, Standing)

• Backboard Use for Standing Victims

• Head Splint Techniques (Face-Up and Face-Down, Shallow and Deep Water)

• Head and Chin Support Techniques

• In-Line Stabilization for Submerged Victims

• Backboard Use in Shallow and Deep Water

CPR/AED for the Professional Rescuer

• Removing Gloves

• Initial Assessment

• Rescue Breathing (Adult, Child, Infant)

• Bag-Valve-Mask Use (Two Rescuers)

• Conscious and Unconscious Choking Care

• CPR (One-Rescuer and Two-Rescuer)

• AED Use for Adults and Children

First Aid Skills

• Secondary Assessment

• Controlling External Bleeding

• Applying Slings and Binders

• Anatomic and Soft Splints

Final Skill Scenarios

• Active Drowning Victim Rescue

• Submerged Passive Drowning Victim

• Head, Neck, or Back Injury Emergency

Final Wave

The main objective of lifeguard training is to ensure the safety of all individuals within a lifeguard’s assigned area. Lifeguards often monitor swimmers from elevated chairs, patrol larger waterfront areas, and use tools such as binoculars and rescue equipment to maintain visibility and readiness.

The American Lifeguard Association is widely recognized as one of the leading aquatic safety and health training organizations in the Brantley County. With over three decades of experience, ALA remains committed to high training standards, ethical practices, and global water safety.

If you are searching online for “lifeguard training near me,” the American Lifeguard Association is the ideal choice for lifeguard training in Brantley County. For additional details about ALA lifeguard training and certification programs, feel free to contact us.