If you regularly visit a beach, lake, waterpark, or swimming pool, you have likely noticed that lifeguards are always present to protect swimmers. A lifeguard’s key responsibility is to prevent accidents and respond quickly to emergencies, which is why proper training is essential. Lifeguard course in Habersham County serves this purpose—preparing individuals to guard swimmers at beaches, lakes, waterparks, and swimming pools.
Habersham County offers plenty of places where people enjoy swimming and water recreation. From community pools and fitness facilities to nearby lakes and seasonal aquatic attractions, swimming remains one of the most popular warm-weather activities in the area. With so many swimmers and busy peak seasons, facilities need trained lifeguards to monitor safety, prevent incidents, and respond quickly to emergencies. That’s why lifeguarding continues to be in strong demand in and around Habersham County—especially during the summer months when aquatic locations see the highest turnout.
Lifeguards work at beaches, waterparks, lakes, and swimming pools to keep swimmers safe and reduce the risk of drowning incidents. Across the U.S., there are many aquatic recreation locations, and Habersham County is no exception when it comes to opportunities for water safety roles.
Lifeguard course in Habersham County is the first step toward entering a strong and rewarding path in aquatics. After earning your lifeguard certification from a recognized organization such as the American Lifeguard Association (ALA), you can pursue job opportunities in pools, waterfronts, and aquatic facilities.
ALA training centers provide several lifeguard course options and certifications. While the summer months are typically the busiest for lifeguard hiring, training and work opportunities can continue throughout the year due to indoor pools and ongoing aquatic activities.
With certification through ALA, candidates can improve their chances of employment because ALA’s reputation and long-standing experience support lifeguards in finding jobs across many locations. ALA has trained lifeguards for over 30 years, and its trained professionals serve communities worldwide.
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 improving aquatic health and safety.
ALA’s main goal is to reduce drowning incidents and help keep swimming pools, beaches, and waterways safer. To support this mission, ALA works with employers across the country to train lifeguard professionals and promote strong safety practices.
ALA has been referenced and recognized over the years by organizations and programs such as:
Since the early 1990s, ALA has worked to ensure its training programs meet Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) requirements for employees. ALA’s program skills reflect ECC science and include findings from lifeguard training standards coalition reports. In addition, ALA also requires employers to follow Model Aquatic Health Code (MAHC) recommendations for pre-service evaluations and in-service training.
Before we discuss the skills included in the program, it is important to understand the requirements for enrolling in the ALA lifeguard class.
To enroll in the ALA lifeguarding program, U.S. labor requirements generally state that candidates must meet minimum age rules for aquatic employment:
15 years or older to work at a swimming pool, waterpark, or lake
16 years or older to work at beaches and waterfront facilities
Candidates must also complete the following prerequisite skills to successfully pass the entire lifeguarding course:
Swim 300 yards continuously, using these strokes in the following order:
100 yards of front crawl using rhythmic breathing and a stabilizing, propellant kick (breathing to the side or front)
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 event (1 minute, 40 seconds):
Start in the water and swim 20 yards using front crawl or breaststroke
Surface dive 7–10 feet and retrieve a 10-pound object
Return to the surface and swim 20 yards back to the starting point while holding the object
Exit the water without using a ladder or steps
Upon successful completion of the lifeguard course, each participant receives an American Lifeguard Certificate showing Lifeguard, CPR/AED for the Professional Rescuer, and First Aid, valid for two years.
Many people consider lifeguarding a seasonal summer job, especially for students, but it can also develop into a long-term career. One way to make the most of your Lifeguard course in Habersham County is to work at facilities that employ lifeguards year-round, such as indoor pools and recreation centers.
With additional certifications and experience, lifeguards may also advance into higher roles, including:
Water Safety Instructor
Swim Coach
Aquatic Supervisor or Manager
These roles often come with increased pay, added responsibility, and long-term career growth in the aquatics industry.
During the ALA lifeguard program, participants gain a wide range of professional skills related to rescue techniques, CPR/AED, and first aid.
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
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-Down 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 One Side in Deep Water)
Using a Backboard in Shallow and Deep Water
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)
Secondary Assessment
Controlling External Bleeding
Applying a Sling and Binder
Applying an Anatomic Splint
Applying a Soft Splint
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 main purpose of lifeguard training is to ensure every swimmer in a lifeguard’s care remains safe. Lifeguards often sit in elevated chairs to improve visibility over the pool or waterfront. In larger open-water environments, lifeguards may patrol the area to monitor swimmers. Binoculars are also commonly used tools for first responders in wide zones.
The American Lifeguard Association is widely known as one of the leading aquatic health and safety training providers in the Habersham County. With more than 30 years of experience, ALA delivers training based on strong ethics and a commitment to quality and professionalism.
For Lifeguard course in Habersham County, if you are searching for “lifeguard Course near me,” the American Lifeguard Association is a reliable option for training and certification. For more details about ALA lifeguard training and certification programs, please feel free to contact us.
The American Lifeguard Association has been approved for the Capital One Affiliate Program! for Tuition Assistance Loan
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