Become a Certified Lifeguard in Accomack County with ALA

If you visit the beaches or swimming pools in Accomack County, you’ll notice lifeguards on duty, ensuring everyone’s safety. The lifeguard’s crucial role is to help prevent accidents and respond promptly in emergencies, which requires specialized training. Lifeguard training in Accomack County serves this very purpose: preparing individuals to protect swimmers at beaches, lakes, waterparks, and swimming pools.

Accomack County, with its beautiful coastline and numerous aquatic venues, creates an environment where lifeguards are always in demand. Whether at the beach, pool, or lake, the need for well-trained lifeguards is constant, especially during the busy summer months when swimming activity peaks. As a result, becoming a certified lifeguard opens up a world of opportunities in this rewarding and vital profession.

Lifeguards in Accomack County

Lifeguards serve at beaches, waterparks, lakes, and swimming pools throughout Accomack County, ensuring that swimmers can enjoy aquatic activities safely. Given the popularity of outdoor and indoor aquatic facilities across the county, there is a continuous demand for certified lifeguards.

Lifeguard training in Accomack County is the first step toward a fulfilling career in aquatics. Once certified by a reputable organization such as the American Lifeguard Association (ALA), candidates are well-positioned to seek employment at local beaches, pools, and aquatic centers. ALA’s training programs provide individuals with the skills and certifications needed to succeed as lifeguards.

About the American Lifeguard Association

The American Lifeguard Association (ALA) is supported by two prominent nonprofit organizations: Global Lifeguards and the Swimming Pool and Spa Foundation. Both are 501(c)(3) nonprofit entities dedicated to reducing drownings and enhancing aquatic safety.

ALA’s core mission is to make swimming pools, beaches, and waterways safer for all. To accomplish this, ALA works closely with employers across North America, providing comprehensive lifeguard training programs and establishing safety protocols for aquatic facilities.

Over the years, ALA has been referenced by several leading 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 meticulously aligned its training programs with Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) requirements, ensuring the highest standards for lifeguard safety. ALA’s training also integrates findings from the Canadian Lifeguard Training Standards Coalition Report and reflects the latest ECC science. Furthermore, ALA mandates that employers comply with the Model Aquatic Health Code (MAHC), which sets recommendations for pre-service evaluations and in-service training of lifeguard staff.

Requirements for Lifeguard Training in Accomack County

To enroll in the American Lifeguard Association’s lifeguard training course in Accomack County, candidates must meet the following age requirements:

• 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 skills to successfully complete the program:

• Swim 300 yards continuously, using the following strokes:

  • 100 yards of front crawl with rhythmic breathing and a stabilizing, 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 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, which includes certifications in Lifeguarding, CPR/AED for the Professional Rescuer, and First Aid. This certification is valid for two years.

Lifeguarding in Accomack County: Long-Term Career Options

While many people view lifeguarding as a summer job for students, it offers a long-term career path for those who wish to make it a full-time profession. Year-round employment is available at indoor pools and aquatic centers, and lifeguards can pursue additional training to advance into more specialized roles such as:

• Water Safety Instructor

• Swim Coach

• Aquatic Supervisor or Manager

These positions not only offer higher pay but also provide leadership opportunities, allowing individuals to build a career dedicated to public health and safety.

Learning Skills with Lifeguard Training in Accomack County

During the ALA lifeguard training course, participants develop a comprehensive set of skills. These skills cover rescue techniques, CPR/AED, and First Aid, ensuring that candidates are fully prepared for a variety of emergency situations.

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 Removal with a Backboard

• Passive Submerged Victim in Shallow Water

• Multiple-Victim Rescue

• Feet-First Surface Dive

• Submerged Victim Recovery in Deep Water

• Front and Rear Head-Hold Escapes

• Caring for Head, Neck, or Back Injuries

CPR/AED for the Professional Rescuer Skills

• Removing Gloves and Performing an Initial Assessment

• Rescue Breathing (adult, child, infant)

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

• Conscious and Unconscious Choking (adult, child, infant)

• CPR (one-rescuer and two-rescuer for adult, child, infant)

• AED Use (adult and child)

First Aid Skills

• Secondary Assessment

• Controlling External Bleeding

• Applying Slings, Binders, Anatomic, and Soft Splints

Final Skill Scenarios

• Active Drowning Victim

• Submerged Passive Drowning Victim

• Head, Neck, or Back Injury

The Final Wave

The primary role of lifeguard training is to ensure the safety of swimmers. Lifeguards are often stationed in elevated chairs to monitor pool areas or patrol large open-water zones. They use binoculars and rescue equipment as necessary to respond to emergencies.

The American Lifeguard Association is recognized as one of the leading aquatic health and safety training providers in the United States and has been delivering high-quality lifeguard training for over 30 years. ALA is committed to excellence in health and safety training and is dedicated to ensuring a safer aquatic environment for everyone.

If you’re looking for “lifeguard training near me” in Accomack County, the American Lifeguard Association is the right place for your lifeguard training. For more information on ALA’s lifeguard training and certification programs, don’t hesitate to contact us.