Become a Certified Lifeguard in Jersey with ALA

If you visit beaches or swimming pools in Jersey, you will notice lifeguards on duty to ensure everyone’s safety. The lifeguard’s primary responsibility is to help prevent accidents and respond quickly in emergencies, which requires professional training. Lifeguard training in Jersey fulfills this role, preparing individuals to safeguard swimmers at beaches, lakes, waterparks, and swimming pools.

Jersey offers a wide variety of aquatic environments, from coastal beaches to community pools and waterparks. Swimming is a popular activity throughout the area, both in natural open waters and at indoor facilities. This variety of venues creates a strong and ongoing demand for lifeguards, especially during the busy summer months when water activities are at their peak.

Lifeguard training in Jersey

Lifeguards are stationed at beaches, lakes, waterparks, and pools across Jersey to ensure public safety. With such a wide variety of aquatic facilities, lifeguard positions are available throughout the year.

Lifeguard training in Jersey is the first step toward entering this rewarding field. Once certified by a respected organization such as the American Lifeguard Association (ALA), candidates are well-qualified to apply for jobs at beaches, pools, and aquatic centers.

ALA training centers in Jersey provide a range of lifeguard certification programs. While the busiest season for training is summer, opportunities exist year-round thanks to indoor pools and aquatic recreation facilities.

With more than 30 years of experience, the American Lifeguard Association has prepared thousands of lifeguards now serving communities worldwide. An ALA certificate is highly regarded by employers and shows a commitment to safety and professionalism.

About the American Lifeguard Association

The American Lifeguard Association is supported by Global Lifeguards and the Swimming Pool and Spa Foundation, both nonprofit organizations dedicated to aquatic safety.

ALA’s mission is to reduce drownings and make pools, beaches, and waterways safer. To achieve this, ALA partners directly with employers across Jersey to train lifeguards and establish strong safety practices.

ALA has been recognized by health and government agencies, including:

• The CDC Healthy Swimming Program

• The U.S. Department of Labor

• The U.S. General Service Administration (GSA)

Since the early 1990s, ALA programs have met Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) standards. Training is also based on the latest ECC science and findings from the U.S. Lifeguard Training Standards Coalition Report. In addition, ALA requires employers to follow Model Aquatic Health Code (MAHC) guidelines for pre-service evaluations and in-service training.

Requirements for Lifeguard Training in Jersey

To enroll in the American Lifeguard Association’s training course, candidates must meet the minimum age requirements:

• 15 years or older to work at swimming pools, lakes, or waterparks

• 16 years or older to work at beaches or waterfront facilities

Candidates must also demonstrate the following prerequisite skills:

• Swim 300 yards continuously:

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

  • 100 yards breaststroke with pull, breath, kick, glide sequence

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

• 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

  • Swim 20 yards back, carrying the object

  • Exit the water without using steps or a ladder

  • All within 1 minute, 40 seconds

Upon successful completion, participants receive an ALA Lifeguard Certificate, including CPR/AED for the Professional Rescuer and First Aid, valid for two years.

Lifeguarding in Jersey: Long-Term Career Options

Although lifeguarding is often seen as a summer job for students, it can also develop into a full-time career. Many aquatic facilities operate year-round, offering steady employment. With additional certifications, lifeguards can advance into higher-paying roles such as:

• Water Safety Instructor

• Swim Coach

• Aquatic Supervisor or Manager

These positions provide leadership opportunities and the chance to build a long-term career in public health and safety.

Skills Learned with Lifeguard Training in Jersey

During the ALA lifeguard training program, participants develop a wide range of skills in rescue techniques, CPR/AED, and First Aid.

Rescue Skills

• Slide-In Entry

• Stride and Compact Jumps

• Rescue Approaches (front crawl or breaststroke)

• Assists (simple, extension, reaching, and throwing)

• Swimming Extension Rescues

• Active and Passive Drowning Victim Rescues

• Two-Person Removal with a Backboard

• Submerged Victim Recovery (shallow and deep water)

• Multiple-Victim Rescues

• Feet-First Surface Dives

• Head-Hold Escapes (front and rear)

Caring for Head, Neck, or Back Injuries

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

• Backboarding for standing victims

• Head Splint and Head/Chin Support techniques (face-up and face-down, shallow and deep water)

• In-Line Stabilization for Submerged Victims

• Backboarding in shallow and deep water

CPR/AED for the Professional Rescuer

• Removing gloves and initial assessments

• Rescue breathing (adult, child, infant)

• Bag-valve-mask resuscitation (two rescuers)

• Conscious and unconscious choking (all ages)

• One-rescuer and two-rescuer CPR (all ages)

• AED operation (adult and child)

First Aid Skills

• Secondary assessments

• Controlling external bleeding

• Applying slings, binders, and splints (soft and anatomic)

Final Skill Scenarios

• Active drowning victim rescue

• Submerged passive drowning victim recovery

• Head, neck, or back injury response

Would you like to read about: Lifeguard training in France

The Final Word

The main role of lifeguards is to keep swimmers safe. To do this effectively, lifeguards monitor their area from raised chairs, patrol open-water zones, and use binoculars or rescue equipment when necessary.

With more than three decades of experience, the American Lifeguard Association is one of the leading providers of aquatic health and safety training in Jersey. Guided by a strict code of ethics, ALA delivers high-quality programs worldwide.

For lifeguard training in Jersey, if you’re searching for “lifeguard training near me,” the American Lifeguard Association is the right choice. For more information about ALA lifeguard training and certification, please contact us.